How Meghan Markle's Mom Doria Found an "Unlikely Ally" in Oprah
Finding Freedom, a new book detailing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship, unearths many revelations about the royal family.
In an excerpt exclusive to OprahMag.com, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand share that Meghan's mom Doria found an "unlikely ally" in Oprah, amidst media scrutiny.
Ever since Prince Harry first confirmed his relationship with Meghan Markle back in 2016, the high-profile couple has been battling intense media scrutiny.
The contentious relationship with the British tabloids, in particular, led Harry to release a rare statement in October 2019 announcing his plan to take legal action against some of the British press, and Meghan admitted in an interview that she was "not okay." The media coverage of Meghan, especially, led celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Oprah, and Gayle to speak out in support of the 39 year old. Even after the couple relocated to Los Angeles, they've continued to face invasion of privacy, recently filing a lawsuit in July 2020 claiming a telephoto lens or drones were used to take unauthorized photos of their son Archie.
But the couple hasn't been the only ones who've had to deal with increased attention from the press. The lens has also focused on Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, who lives in Los Angeles.
A new biography of the Sussexes, Finding Freedom, by Omid Scobie and O's royal contributor Carolyn Durand, reveals just how the paparazzi invaded Doria's life, and how Oprah was able to support her through the media frenzy.
"In LA paparazzi camped outside her house and followed her as she drove to the homes of her hospice clients," Scobie and Durand wrote about Doria's new normal, in an excerpt shared exclusively with OprahMag.com. "They raced alongside her, snapping pictures with their large cameras, as she made her way up the walkways to her clients' front doors."
"Doria found an unlikely ally in—of all people—Oprah Winfrey," wrote Scobie and Durand. "The former talk show host, who had been introduced to Meghan by a friend, reached out to Doria to offer her support when she was first swept up in the media storm. It turned out that on occasion they went to the same church, the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles."
The O of O, who attended Harry and Meghan's nuptials, has previously lauded the couple. She documented getting ready for the royal wedding on Instagram, sharing that it gave her "hope"—and when they welcomed their son, Archie, she sent the newborn enough books "to last a lifetime."
"Oprah has been a friend and a help to someone who's been in a pretty extraordinary situation," a source close to Meghan said, according to Finding Freedom. "There are not many people who can understand the situations that Doria's found herself in, so it's great to be supported by someone who understands the pressure of being in the public eye."
"Doria was able to spend time with Oprah when she needed to get away from her house without worrying that she would use their friendship to get an interview," the reporters wrote. "A senior palace aide had an honest conversation with Oprah before the wedding, where she assured them that 'that's not what any of this is about.'"
"Meghan will always be so grateful to Oprah for being someone her mother can turn to," a source told Scobie and Durand. "Doria has plenty of friends, but there's a comfort you can take in knowing that someone like Oprah is close by and supportive.'"
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