Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

“Like Mother, Like Daughter”: Meghan Markle’s Alleged Rift With Mom Doria Sparks Wild Theories
Meghan Markle and her mom Doria smiling outdoors, highlighting Meghan Markleu2019s alleged rift with mom Doria theories.

“Like Mother, Like Daughter”: Meghan Markle’s Alleged Rift With Mom Doria Sparks Wild Theories

9

ADVERTISEMENT

On Friday (January 9), speculation surrounding an alleged rift between Meghan Markle, 44, and her mother, Doria Ragland, 69, ran rampant online. 

The rumors reportedly stem from Markle’s reality series, With Love, Meghan, which was released in March 2025. Insiders close to the Duchess of Sussex argued that a line from the show highlighted differences between the mother and daughter and hinted at a falling out. 

Highlights
  • Rumors of a rift between Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, erupted online after insiders claimed a line in With Love, Meghan was a dig at the latter.
  • Netizens viewed Ragland’s reduced presence in the series and alleged absence from the Sussexes’ home as possible signs of tension.
  • Some users speculated that Ragland had “bailed” on her daughter as she no longer enjoyed royal “perks” following Markle’s move to California.

Netizens interpreted the comment as proof of a rift between mother and daughter, believing it stems from Doria’s alleged bitterness over Markle’s decision to leave the royal family.

“She didn’t do anything for Meghan out of motherly love; rest assured, she benefited financially from Meghan’s marriage to Harry,” one person commented.

RELATED:

    Sources claimed there was tension between Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland

    Meghan Markle seated in a brown outfit, smiling during an event, symbolizing alleged rift with mom Doria discussion.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Getty/Diego Cuevas

    Some netizens have speculated Ragland, who was once a frequent presence at the Sussexes’ California home, had “bailed” on the royals. 

    RadarOnline first reported rumors of Markle allegedly freezing her mother out of her life on Friday. Sources close to the family suggested that the point of contention between the mother and daughter comes from a line in Markle’s reality series.

    Meghan Markle and her mother Doria Ragland smiling outdoors, sparking alleged rift and wild theories discussion.

    Image credits: Getty/WPA Pool

    In an episode, Markle used the phrase “a free spirit” to describe Ragland, a social worker who previously worked as a makeup artist and yoga instructor. According to one insider, the wording was a deliberate attempt by Markle to allegedly take a dig at her mother. 

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Meghan Markle smiling in a kitchen setting, promoting a Netflix series, highlighting alleged rift with mom Doria theories.

    Image credits: Netflix

    “On the face of it, it sounded warm, but among those who know them, it came across as a quiet step back,” the insider said.  

    According to some netizens, the comment implied Ragland wasn’t around during Markle’s childhood, a claim connected to long-running rumors of Ragland’s issues with law enforcement. 

    Sources also speculated that the alleged dig revealed the mother and daughter’s “different ideas about parenting and family.”

    Woman with glasses wearing a colorful patterned dress at an outdoor event, related to Meghan Markle and mom Doria theories.

    Image credits: Getty/Stefanie Keenan

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Another source added, “It came across less as praise and more as a subtle point of difference.”

    In the past, Ragland reportedly stayed at Markle and Prince Harry’s California residence for extended periods. A separate source shared that she was closely involved in caring for the couple’s children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, but was “no longer living there.”

    Netizens speculated that resentment and manipulation caused Meghan Markle’s fallout with her mother

    Text comment about Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria, sparking wild theories online discussion.

    The insiders’ claims led netizens to speculate about Markle and Ragland’s alleged rift, with several people viewing the latter’s limited screen time in her daughter’s reality series as a possible indication of the same.

    On Reddit, one user noted that Ragland’s appearance in the first season was brief and “not warm.” Moreover, she did not appear in the second installment and was only mentioned once.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Meghan Markle and her mother Doria engaged in conversation at a public event amid alleged rift theories.

    Image credits: Getty/WPA Pool

    The user further speculated that Ragland wasn’t fully accepting of Markle and Prince Harry’s departure from the royal family, which may have caused a rift between them. 

    “Something tells me she wasn’t fully on board with the Sussexodus,” one user said. 

    Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sitting together outdoors, highlighting Meghan Markle's family rift theories.

    Image credits: Getty/Chris Jackson

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Others felt that the mother-daughter pair had similar personalities, accusing them of being manipulative and describing them as “grifters.” 

    ADVERTISEMENT

    One person wrote, “D and M very much mirror each other’s personalities. And that’s when relationships can be the most volatile when disagreements happen.”

    With Markle stepping back from royal duties, netizens speculated that Ragland no longer enjoyed the same “perks” as before and had “bailed” on the family. 

    Family moment on a small bridge in a lush garden, highlighting Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria theories.

    Image credits: Instagram/meghan

    “I guess Doria doesn’t get her allowance anymore, so she bailed. Like mother, like daughter,” another user commented. 

    Ragland’s limited appearances with her daughter, public or televised, added further fuel to the speculation, with some arguing that the 69-year-old was keeping a low profile because of her rumored jail time. 

    Meghan Markle’s mother was falsely accused of serving jail time

    Meghan Markle sitting at a table decorating cookies, surrounded by art supplies and a glass of wine indoors.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Netflix

    In the past, Ragland’s reputation has been similarly threatened by online rumors surrounding her legal history, with netizens accusing her of being absent during Markle’s childhood. 

    During an episode of Britain’s Newsroom, aired on December 4, 2025, reporter Carole Malone alleged that Markle was raised by her now-estranged fatheras Ragland “was in jail” during her childhood.

    Meghan Markle in a stylish black outfit, posing against a gray background in a formal portrait session.

    Image credits: Harper’s BAZAAR

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Days after the incident, a spokesperson for the Duchess denied the claims in a statement given to People on December 16, 2025.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “Ms. Ragland proudly raised her daughter and has never been in prison,” they said. 

    Malone apologized and retracted her comments, citing online misinformation as the basis for the controversial claim. However, Markle’s spokesperson argued that the apology was made “to escape a defamation lawsuit.” 

    “No real surprise.” Netizens believe Meghan Markle is to blame for the alleged falling out

    Text post from user NovelGullible7099 reading Nutmeg has issues with everybody. We’ll, maybe not Markus, referencing Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria.

    Comment about Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria, discussing estrangements and family tensions online.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text discussing Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with her mom Doria and the impact on their relationship dynamics.

    Comment discussing Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria and speculation about her low profile and murky past.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text comment reading seems wise to me so M doesn’t start demanding money back referencing Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment discussing Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria and family distancing rumors.

    Text post discussing rumors about Meghan Markle’s family, focusing on alleged rift with mom Doria and related theories.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Online comment discussing Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria, sparking wild theories about their relationship.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text post showing a comment about Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria and lack of maternal love.

    Comment discussing Meghan Markle’s alleged rift with mom Doria, highlighting their contrasting personalities and behavior.

    Screenshot of an online comment discussing Meghan Markle and her family dynamics, referencing a possible rift with her mom Doria.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Poll Question

    Total votes ·

    Thanks! Check out the results:

    Total votes ·
    Share on Facebook
    Pratik Handore

    Pratik Handore

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Pratik is an entertainment journalist at Bored Panda and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic who has previously written for popular outlets like Fandomwire and Cinemaholic. As a pop-culture enthusiast and movie-buff who is chronically online, he enjoys creating viral content, from celebrity gossip, sensational news, and TikTok brainrot to the latest streaming hits.

    Read less »
    Pratik Handore

    Pratik Handore

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Pratik is an entertainment journalist at Bored Panda and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic who has previously written for popular outlets like Fandomwire and Cinemaholic. As a pop-culture enthusiast and movie-buff who is chronically online, he enjoys creating viral content, from celebrity gossip, sensational news, and TikTok brainrot to the latest streaming hits.

    What do you think ?
    carmenagnes
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I get paid over 220 Bucks per hour working from home with 2 kids at home. i never thought i'd be able to do it but my best friend earns over 15k a month doing this and she convinced me to try. the potential with this is endless..., COPY HERE➤➤ 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗝𝗼𝗯𝟭.𝗰𝗼𝗺

    Load More Replies...
    Ru Bee
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At some point you have to ask if Megan is the problem. She's alienated her husband's entire family, openly rejected her father and the whole of that side of her family, the way she treated her ex husband as disposable once she got a role in suits is awful, most of her previous "friends" don't seem to want to know her and now her mother. Let's look at the common denominator.

    Serena Myers
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Meghan once thought she would be Queen when Harry proposed (I don't think she knew very much, if anything, about how the succession to the throne works) She's been miffed ever since.

    Load More Replies...
    Joy
    Community Member
    11 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Doria Ragland comes across as a gentle, discreet and yes free spirited person but one rooted in philosophical and grounded wisdom. Seems the critics are now coming for a woman who doesn't appear to have done anything wrong.

    Load More Comments
    carmenagnes
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I get paid over 220 Bucks per hour working from home with 2 kids at home. i never thought i'd be able to do it but my best friend earns over 15k a month doing this and she convinced me to try. the potential with this is endless..., COPY HERE➤➤ 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗝𝗼𝗯𝟭.𝗰𝗼𝗺

    Load More Replies...
    Ru Bee
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At some point you have to ask if Megan is the problem. She's alienated her husband's entire family, openly rejected her father and the whole of that side of her family, the way she treated her ex husband as disposable once she got a role in suits is awful, most of her previous "friends" don't seem to want to know her and now her mother. Let's look at the common denominator.

    Serena Myers
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Meghan once thought she would be Queen when Harry proposed (I don't think she knew very much, if anything, about how the succession to the throne works) She's been miffed ever since.

    Load More Replies...
    Joy
    Community Member
    11 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Doria Ragland comes across as a gentle, discreet and yes free spirited person but one rooted in philosophical and grounded wisdom. Seems the critics are now coming for a woman who doesn't appear to have done anything wrong.

    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT