Meghan Markle Plans US Return to See Mother After Father’s Arrest
Meghan Markle is planning a trip to the United States to see her mother, Doria Ragland, a source close to the Duchess of Sussex said, after her father Thomas Markle was jailed following charges of possessing child pornography.
A devastated Meghan Markle is planning a return trip to the United States to see her mother, Doria Ragland, according to a source close to the Duchess of Sussex. The visit follows the jailing of her father, Thomas Markle Snr, who faces a child pornography charge.
Markle, 82, was charged with possession of child pornography. The allegation has not been tested in court, and he is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.
Father held after cutting tag
On Tuesday, November 10, a judge ordered Markle held in jail. He had cut off the electronic tag he was required to wear on his leg as a condition of his bail.
Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018. The source said the legal proceedings have left her shaken.
"She is devastated," the source said. "This is her dad, someone she grew up trusting and was very close to for many years. The allegations are devastating for her. There's a lot of sadness."
Turning to her mother
The source said Meghan is leaning on Ragland during the crisis. "She misses her mom since moving to England, and this makes her miss her even more. They've been speaking a lot," the source said.
The source added that talking to her mother helps, "even though she wishes they could be together."
Meghan and Ragland saw each other regularly when Meghan and Prince Harry lived in Montecito, California. The couple moved back to the UK in August. In Britain, Meghan is said to be relying on loved ones for support.
First public appearance since the arrest
Meghan has reportedly thrown herself into family life and her career as the case develops. On Tuesday she made her first public appearance since the arrest was confirmed.
She and Harry attended an event at the European Parliament in Brussels on the dangers young people face online. Meghan had been due to give a speech to attendees but chose not to. She was "not strong enough" following the revelations about her father, according to the report of the event.
No date has been given for the trip to the US.
