Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lilibet Diana, into the world. And while the baby’s name may be a tribute to Harry’s late mother, the new royal has another grandma based in the US – Meghan’s mum, Doria Ragland.
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Lilibet, or Lili for short, was born on Friday, June 4, 2021. The news was announced via a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan.
“It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world.”
The statement went on to explain how the chosen names were odes to Her Majesty the Queen, lovingly nicknamed Lilibet, and Prince Harry’s late mother Princess Diana.
While the news is being heralded in royal circles, Grandma Doria would also be celebrating the arrival of her longed-for granddaughter.
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Born on September 22, 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio, Doria Ragland would have had no idea her only child would one day marry a British prince.
A makeup artist-turned-yoga instructor, Doria lives in Los Angeles, where she raised Meghan – now the Duchess of Sussex, aged 39.
As Meghan prepared to welcome her first son, Archie, the now-64-year-old was doing everything she could to be by her daughter’s side.
“Like all mums, Doria wants to be there for her daughter at this seismic event in her life,” a source told The Sun.
“She has sometimes worried about being so far away but she is absolutely going to be there for her at the birth.”
Doria’s unwavering support and very private manner has made her one of Meghan and Prince Harry’s greatest confidantes in what was a rocky start to their relationship, marriage and pregnancy.
Other members of Meghan’s extended family, especially her own father, Thomas Markle, have often slammed the actress-turned-royal or made embarrassing statements to the media. Meghan’s half-sister Samantha Markle has also regularly made some less-than-supportive public comments about Meghan.
But Doria has always been there for her daughter, being a role model for Meghan.
“For me to watch this level of lifelong sensitivity to nurturing and care-giving, but at the same time my mum has always been a free spirit,” Meghan told Glamour magazine of baby Lilibet’s non-royal grandmother.
“She’s got dreadlocks and a nose ring. She just ran the LA Marathon. We can just have so much fun together, and yet, I’ll still find so much solace in her support.”
Doria is also responsible for her “Flower” Meghan’s insatiable love for charity work – something she and Harry share.
“I must have been about 10 years old when we visited the slums of Jamaica,” Meghan explained on her past blog The Tig.
“I had never seen poverty at that level and it registered in my glazed brown eyes. ‘Don’t look scared, Flower – be aware, but don’t be afraid.'”
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