Who Are Meghan Markle's Parents? Everything You Need to Know About Doria Ragland & Thomas Markle Sr.

1. Who Are Meghan Markle’s Parents?

Meghan Markle is the daughter of Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle Sr.

Born in 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio, Ragland was raised in Los Angeles with her mom Jeanette Arnold and dad Alvin Ragland. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a master's degree in social work. However, she also has spent time as a makeup artist and yoga instructor, according to the Duchess of Sussex.

“My mom has always been a free spirit. She's got dreadlocks and a nose ring,” Markle previously told Glamour. She just ran the L.A. Marathon. We can just have so much fun together, and yet, [I] still find so much solace in her support."

Markle’s father was born and raised in Newport, Pennsylvania, before moving to California and becoming an Emmy Award-winning lighting director. In fact, Meghan’s dad was the one who inspired her to get into acting. “Every day after school for 10 years, I was on the set of Married ... with Children, which is a really funny and perverse place for a little girl in a Catholic school uniform to grow up,” the Suits star previously told Esquire. “There were a lot of times my dad would say, ‘Meg, why don't you go and help with the craft services room over there? This is just a little off-color for your 11-year-old eyes.’” These days, Markle’s father resides in Mexico.

2. How did they meet?

The couple met in L.A., while working on a TV series. (How Hollywood.)

“My dad was a lighting director for a soap opera and my mom was a temp at the studio," the duchess wrote in a 2015 essay for Elle. “I like to think he was drawn to her sweet eyes and her Afro, plus their shared love of antiques.”

They tied the knot in 1979 and welcomed their daughter in 1981, before moving to Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley. Unfortunately, the duo divorced when the duchess was just six years old. Following the split, Meghan lived full-time with her mother.

3. How many kids to they have?

The 40-year-old mother of two is the only child shared by Ragland and Markle. However, through her father’s side, Meghan has two older half-siblings—Thomas Markle Jr. and Samantha Grant—whom he shares with his first wife, Roslyn Markle.

4. Are they close to meghan?

While Meghan’s relationship with her father is strained, she remains incredibly close to her mother.

In fact, as of last July, Ragland was living full-time with her daughter and Harry at their home in Montecito. (No word if she still remains in the guest house or if she’s moved back to her own home.) However, since she now has two grandchildren, we’re sure she’s spending plenty of time with both of them.

Ragland also has a sweet nickname for her daughter. While we tend to call her the duchess or Meg, her mother, on the other hand, calls her “Flower.” In an interview with Best Health Magazine, the duchess revealed the unique moniker, saying, “I was very resistant [to yoga] as a kid, but she said, ‘Flower, you will find your practice—just give it time.’”