She is believed to still be estranged from her father Thomas Markle – but a resurfaced blog post from the Duchess of Sussex’s now-defunct website, The Tig, has revealed her affection for her “hardworking father” before his dating was excluded from her life.
Meghan Markle, 41, posted an exuberant tribute to her parents for Father’s Day in June 2014, in which she commended, “This man poured his blood, sweat and tears into my future so I could grow up to have so much.”
But it wasn’t just her father who was applauded on her lifestyle website; Prince Harry’s wife celebrated her “free spirit” mother, Doria Ragland, in a post she shared a month earlier.
Mum-of-two Meghan, who lives in the US, and Doria continue to share a close relationship, with the parent starring in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s bombastic Netflix documentary in December.
On The Tig, Meghan thanked her mother “for all the lessons, for all the love. To you’. Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the times the Duchess mentioned her parents on her website after the blog posts resurfaced.
Meghan’s “hardworking dad”
Meghan Markle, 41, posted an exuberant tribute to her parents for Father’s Day in June 2014, in which she praised, “This man poured blood, sweat and tears into my future so I could grow up to have so much.”
For Father’s Day in June 2014, Meghan dedicated a post to her retired Hollywood lighting director, Thomas Markle, 78.
She called him “thoughtful, inspirational, hardworking” and commended him for the “blood, sweat and tears of this man (who came from such a small Pennsylvania town where Christmas stockings were stuffed with oranges and dinner was potatoes and spam consist ) invested in my future so I can grow up and have so much.’
The Duchess recalled her father “religiously” taking her to her dance classes every Saturday morning – despite working more than 75 hours a week.
She also noted his determination to shine a light on her high school musicals, as well as the fishing trips the duo would enjoy and the lessons he taught her — including writing thank-you notes and always being early to events.
Meghan explained that her father also helped her travel from audition to audition as she tried to be an actress.
Fast forward to Meghan and Prince Harry’s wedding on Saturday May 19, 2018 – and the former actress was brought down the aisle by King Charles, then Prince of Wales, and not her father.
Mr Markle did not attend the couple’s historic wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor after suffering two heart attacks in California in the weeks before.
He blamed her on the stress he suffered after posing for paparazzi pictures to boost his image.
He has since been estranged from his daughter and has never met his son-in-law Prince Harry or his grandsons Archie, three, and Lilibet, one.
LIFE’S LESSONS BROUGHT HER MOTHER
Meghan – who is known for being close to Doria – shared the life lessons her mother had taught her in a resurfaced blog post from The Tig in May 2014.
MEGHAN’S BIRTHDAY WISH – INSPIRED BY HER MOTHER
In 2016, Meghan wrote about the birthday wish she makes every year, inspired by her mother, on her now-defunct lifestyle website, The Tig.
“My mom always said that birthdays are your very own new year,” the mom-of-two said, according to Elle. “Your own chance to make resolutions just for yourself and your predictions for the year ahead.”
The Duchess explained her wish for this year is: “More surprises, more adventures, more opportunities to grow, more days of giggles and cheeky jokes, more delicious meals and more inspiration. More and more inspiration.”
The Duchess explained how she finally understood all those moments when her 66-year-old parent, who she said was a “free spirit”, tried to protect her or appreciate nature or learn history.
She mentioned how they jogged together, enjoyed bike rides after school, cooked together and vacationed in Oaxaca, Mexico – and recalled taking her mom to visit her grandmothers.
Meghan wrote: “She protected me. She taught me to take care of my body. She introduced me to history and nurtured my love of nature.
“She planted the seed for me to become a foodie. She showed me how to be a daughter, not just in that moment, but as I became this grown woman. For now. And in thirty years. she loved me So hard.
“To all the wonderful moms in the world, thank you. For all the lessons, for all the love. For her. I love you mommy,” Meghan concluded.
Social worker Doria lives in LA and maintains a close relationship with Harry and Meghan and their grandchildren.
Intimate family photos featured in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix docuseries showed the grandmother celebrating major milestones including Archie’s first birthday.
Former makeup artists Doria and Thomas met on the set of General Hospital and married in 1979 – before splitting when Meghan was six.
DORIA’S SKIN CARE TIPS
In another blog post shared online but first written in October 2016, Meghan (pictured with Doria in 2018) discussed her skincare regimens on a page titled “Favorite Face Scrubbers Around the World.”
In another blog post shared online but first written in October 2016, Meghan discussed her skincare regimens on a page titled “Favorite Face Scrubbers Around the World.”
She revealed her love for facials began after her mother gave her the idea when she was 13.
“It seemed so silly at the time, in my school uniform, to walk up to a woman named Anika who was rubbing Yon-Ka products on my skin and chatting about the importance of eye cream,” the Duchess recalled.
“My mom gave Anika a check (and usually some fruit that she picked up for her at the farmers market because she’s so thoughtful) and we drove home with my mom, always the little bird in my ear, and we said, ‘ You always have to take care of your skin,” Meghan added.
The Duchess of Sussex’s other skincare tips included drinking plenty of water and applying sunscreen.
HER FATHER TOLD HER “DRAW YOUR OWN BOX”
Meghan – in her Father’s Day post – shared how her father encouraged her to “make her own box”.
She recalled the moment in her 7th grade English class when she was asked to tick only one of four options (white, black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander) for her ethnicity.
“I remember going home that night and telling my dad what had happened and relating how my teacher told me to just ‘pick one’ — that despite my mixed race background, I could just pick a box and go with it should be ready,” she wrote.
“And in one of those parenting moments that no counselor could ever prepare you for, my father said words that will stay with me forever: ‘Draw your own box.'”
She went on to explain that her dad had also previously mixed up two Barbie box sets to make his own custom one at the time, which included “a black Barbie mom, a white Ken doll dad, and two kids — one black.” and a white one – contained. .. because you could only buy a white or a black Barbie.’