Meghan Markle’s Spokesperson Addresses UK Journalist’s Apology for False Claim About Duchess’s Mother

British Journalist Apologizes for False Claims About Meghan Markle’s Mother

A spokesperson for Meghan Markle has issued a scathing response after British journalist Carole Malone was forced to publicly apologize for falsely claiming that the Duchess of Sussex’s mother had spent time in prison.

Malone, 71, made the on-air retraction on GB News after stating on the December 4 broadcast of “Britain’s Newsroom” that Thomas Markle “brought Meghan up while her mother, Doria Ragland, was in prison.”

“I believed this to be the case based on what I now understand to be misinformation I had seen online,” Malone said in her apology, which was circulated on social media on December 15. “This was a genuine error. I accept what I have been told on behalf of Ms. Ragland — that she raised her daughter and that she has never been in prison or jail.”

The false claim emerged during a discussion about Thomas Markle’s reported emergency leg amputation surgery in the Philippines. During that segment, Malone questioned Meghan’s compassion toward “the father who actually brought her up, who paid for her private education, while her mother was in jail.”

When challenged by her co-presenter, who stated he had “never heard that before,” Malone doubled down, responding dismissively: “Do you want me to give you the precise date and time? Because I haven’t got that.”

The show’s presenter, Andrew Pierce, also apologized on behalf of GB News, saying, “We all wish to apologize to Ms. Ragland for the error, and we are happy to correct the record.”

A spokesperson for Meghan responded forcefully to the apology in a statement to PEOPLE magazine: “Broadcasters have a responsibility to inform, not inflame. This lie was conclusively debunked more than two years ago, yet it continues to be recycled by irresponsible commentators, causing recurring harm.”

The statement further claimed that “GB News did not apologize voluntarily, but only to escape a defamation lawsuit,” adding that the network “removed any trace of that apology within 24 hours of making it.”

This incident highlights the ongoing media tensions surrounding Meghan, 44, who has been estranged from her father Thomas and stepsister Samantha for years. Both relatives have frequently spoken to media outlets about their strained relationship with the Duchess, particularly intensifying their criticism after she began dating Prince Harry and following their high-profile wedding in 2018.

The false claim about Ragland represents a concerning pattern in how Meghan has been portrayed in certain British media outlets. Many supporters argue the Duchess has faced particularly harsh scrutiny due to her biracial background – a factor that reportedly contributed to the couple’s decision to step back from royal duties in January 2020 and relocate to the United States.

Months after their departure, Harry and Meghan participated in a revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they made significant allegations about racism within the royal family and discussed the mental health challenges Meghan experienced during her time as a working royal.

The incident with Malone underscores the persistent challenges the couple faces in controlling their narrative amid ongoing media attention. Despite leaving their official royal roles behind, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain subjects of intense public interest and, at times, misinformation.

Doria Ragland has largely remained private throughout her daughter’s journey into royal life and subsequent exit, making Malone’s false claims particularly egregious given Ragland’s deliberate choice to stay out of the spotlight.