News Anchor Forced to Apologize On-Air After She Claimed Meghan Markle's Mom Went to Prison
Meghan Markle, who has had her hands full as her father's health scare played out in the media, was forced to confront another issue, this time involving her mother, Doria Ragland. On December 4, GB News anchor Carole Malone falsely alleged on air that Meghan had been raised solely by Thomas Markle while Ragland was serving time in prison. The remark sparked swift backlash, with viewers questioning the credibility of the anchor. Malone later apologized on December 15, admitting she had read the claim online and failed to fact-check it, calling it a 'genuine error.'
Shortly after Meghan's spokesperson denied the defamatory claim, Malone apologized on air, saying, "In an episode of Britain's Newsroom on Thursday, December 4th, 2025, I stated that Thomas Markle, the Duchess of Sussex's father, 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." She added, "I was questioned about the validity of this claim during the broadcast, and I repeated this belief, which I now understand to be false." Addressing Meghan's spokesperson's response, Malone confirmed that Ragland did, in fact, raise her daughter and was never in jail.
Carole Malone and GB News had to make an on-air apology to Doria Ragland, Meghan Markle's mum, after Carole falsely claimed that Doria had been in jail. pic.twitter.com/kYcEXxovff
— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) December 16, 2025
Malone had initially made the statement on Britain's Newsroom as Thomas underwent an emergency leg amputation in the Philippines, where he currently resides. She pointedly said, "So where's her [Meghan's] compassion for the father who actually brought her up, who paid for her private education, while her mother was in jail, who took huge care of her, and she's not seen him in the latter years." After the incorrect claim went viral, Meghan's spokesperson cleared the air, telling PEOPLE that Ragland had proudly raised her daughter as a single mother. They stressed, "This lie was conclusively debunked more than two years ago, yet it continues to be recycled by irresponsible commentators, causing recurring harm."
Further condemning GB News' lack of ethics, the spokesman continued, "GB News did not apologize voluntarily, but only to escape a defamation lawsuit — and it speaks volumes that GB News removed any trace of that apology within 24 hours of making it." Meanwhile, the British broadcasting channel declined to comment on the situation. It is understood that Meghan and her mother were very close since childhood, with Ragland being the troop leader for her daughter's Girl Scouts.
Moreover, while Ragland prefers to stay out of the spotlight, Meghan and Prince Harry never fail to express their gratitude for her constant support. Ragland, who lives close to the Sussexes in Montecito, remains a steady presence, celebrating their children's birthdays, being there at the time of their births, and helping the family transition to life in the US. Even during their time within the royal fold, she flew to the UK and was reportedly the only one present for Prince Archie's birth. She also joined the family for Princess Lilibet's first birthday at Frogmore Cottage during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.