In a revealing interview from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix documentary, *Harry & Meghan*, Doria Ragland, Meghan Markle’s mother, discussed the behind-the-scenes tensions within the British royal family regarding the upbringing of her grandson, Prince Archie. Ragland, a 67-year-old yoga instructor, hinted at a power struggle within the royal institution over who had the right to decide how Archie should be raised. She suggested that the institution viewed Archie as its own while Meghan fought to assert her parental rights.

“It’s almost like it’s not your child; it’s the institution’s child,” Ragland remarked in the documentary, defending her daughter’s determination to raise Archie on her own terms. Meghan’s insistence on making decisions for her child reflects the broader rift between the Sussexes and the British royal family—a division that has only widened over recent years. Ragland’s comments offer a rare glimpse into the pressures Meghan and Harry faced as new parents trying to navigate royal expectations while maintaining their autonomy.

Ragland also opened up about the personal toll the last five years have taken on the Sussexes. “The last five years have been challenging,” she admitted, referring to the intense scrutiny Meghan and Harry have faced from both the media and the royal institution. She recalled the moment Meghan first shared that she was dating Prince Harry, noting the initial secrecy surrounding the relationship. 

“We were on the phone, and she says, ‘Mommy, I’m going out with Prince Harry,'” Ragland recounted, describing her shock and adding, “I start whispering, ‘Oh my God.’ From the start, the relationship was treated as something that had to be carefully guarded from public view. It was very sort of, ‘Oh my God, nobody can know.'”

Despite the initial secrecy, Ragland expressed positive impressions of Harry when she first met him. “I noticed that Prince Harry was handsome and really nice, with really great manners,” she said. “And they looked really happy together.” Ragland has been a strong pillar of support for Meghan and Harry throughout their tumultuous journey. 

In January 2023, it was revealed by Express.co.uk that Ragland had moved into the Sussexes’ guest house on their Montecito estate to be closer to the family during difficult times. This move was partly motivated by the practical challenges of traveling from Ragland’s home in View Park Windsor Hills, Los Angeles, to Montecito—a nearly 3-hour car journey. Insiders suggest that her presence provided much-needed emotional support to Meghan and Harry as they navigated ongoing tensions with the royal family.

A source close to the Sussexes said, “Harry appreciates the warmth and kindness that Doria brings to the family. He doesn’t get that from his side of the family and thinks it’s important that the children are close with their grandmother.” This close relationship between Ragland and Harry has reportedly been a source of comfort for the Duke of Sussex, particularly as his relationships with his father, King Charles, and his brother, Prince William, have become increasingly strained.

As the division between the Sussexes and the royal family deepens, many royal watchers have expressed doubts that Harry will be able to reconcile with his family in the near future. The tension, which has been widely publicized, was exacerbated by the couple’s decision to step back from royal duties in 2020 and the subsequent airing of grievances in interviews, notably their explosive 2021 conversation with Oprah Winfrey. 

In *Harry & Meghan*, both Meghan and Harry speak candidly about the challenges they faced as senior royals, including struggles with the British tabloid press and what they saw as a lack of support from the royal family. The couple now lives in California, raising their two children, Archie and Lilibet, away from the constraints of royal life. For Harry, the warmth of his mother-in-law, Doria Ragland, has been a welcome counterbalance to his fraught relationship with his own family.

As Ragland remains a steady presence in the Sussex household, it is clear that Meghan and Harry are focused on building their own path forward, prioritizing their children and their chosen family over traditional royal expectations. With the ongoing rift showing no signs of resolution, it remains to be seen whether the Sussexes and the royal family will ever reconcile.

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