Meghan Markle, 39, and Prince Harry, 36, moved back to the Duchess’s native California soon after their stepdown as senior royals last March. Now the couple live in Montecito, Santa Barbara, a short drive from Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland in LA.
Doria has been a key presence throughout Meghan’s life and has been on hand to help with childcare following the birth of Meghan and Harry’s first son Archie Harrison, one, in May 2019.
She will undoubtedly be around to help now Meghan and Harry are expecting their second child together later this year.
Ahead of Archie’s arrival, Doria flew over to the UK to spend time with Meghan at Frogmore Cottage and to help her ease into parenthood in the weeks following Archie’s birth.
Doria is also understood to have been introduced to Meghan and Harry’s neighbour and friend Oprah Winfrey in the weeks leading up to their royal wedding in 2018.
READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could have avoided clash with Queen
The CBS special will focus mainly on Meghan with Harry joining in at the end.
The interview is expected to be the first time the couple publically discuss their decision to quit as senior royals and has ruffled feathers among Palace aides who fear they could be the target of criticism.
Given Oprah’s friendship with Doria and Meghan’s tight-knit bond with her mother, there is a chance she could feature in part of the TV special.
Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special will air on Sunday, March 7 at 8pm EST on CBS, which is around 1am in the UK.
In an unforeseen clash, the much-anticipated sitdown with the Sussexes will air just hours after the Queen delivers a key speech to mark Commonwealth Day.
The huge global interest in Harry and Meghan means there are fears their interview will overshadow the Queen’s important TV message which will air as part of a BBC 1 Commonwealth Day special.
Reacting to the awkward overlap, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: “It was disrespectful of the Sussexes not to have forewarned the Queen of their interview with Oprah as it will contain parts, which are being enormously hyped, about their experiences during their life as working royals.
“If it is a no holds barred interview it may have seismic ramifications.
“If there had been coordination, what is seen as a clash of dates might have been avoided.
“As it is, there is likely to be a fairly substantial audience for the BBC programme, though the Queen’s enthusiasm for the Commonwealth has never resonated with the British public as a whole.”
