46 The Australian Women’s Weekly | JUNE 2018
TIM STEWART/SPLASH.struggled inancially, moving home
several times, and eventually being
declared bankrupt in 2002, with large
credit card debts and reporting only
$10,000 in assets.
Since then her fortunes have
improved. She retrained as a therapist,
working at an LA hospital, and
developed a sideline as a yoga
instructress. A further boost came
with the take-off of Meghan’s career- beginning with small, walk-on parts,
which led to her landing the part of
Rachel Zane in the hit US television
legal drama, Suits.
Now Doria has her own role to
play. Suggestions that she will move
to London to be at her daughter’s side
may be wide of the mark, but as the
biggest inluence on Meghan’s life, her
presence will inevitably be felt. How
should Harry cope?
British relationship specialist and
author Linda Blair says it would be
highly advisable for the prince to stay
on the right side of his mother-in-law.
“Intentionally or not,” she warns,
“women tend to model themselves on
their mothers. So falling out with your
mother-in-law is really like criticising
your wife.”
Harry can take some encouragement
from the warm relationship between
his brother, William, the Duke of
Cambridge, and his indefatigably
hands-on mother-in-law, Carole
Middleton. Carole is a constant
presence in the lives of the Duke,
his wife Kate and their three children.
“Carole has succeeded in being
involved and appreciated, while
knowing how to give the couple
some space,” says royal writer
Marcia Moody. “She’s set something
of a template.”
Some pundits have speculated
that Harry and William, having lost
their mother, Diana, tragically early
in life, are the kind of men who will
instinctively bond with their mothers-
in-law. Not necessarily as substitutes,
but as representatives of maternal love.
Yet Carole, 63, hails from solid,
English, middle-class stock, and
understands the nature of royalty in
a way that Doria – 8000km away in a
place where the aristocracy consists of
movie stars – can’t be expected to.
Still, the early signs are good, with
Harry, who irst met Doria at last
year’s Invictus Games in Toronto,
describing her as “amazing”. AWW“Intentionally
or not, women
tend to model
themselves on
their mothers.”
CAROLE
and DORIA:
How the royal
matriarchs measure up:
At first glance, Carole Middleton,
impeccably attired and discreetly
dutiful, would seem to have little in
common with Doria Ragland, a funky
ex-hippy-chic from LA. But a closer
look at the 60-something mothers-in-
law suggests surprising similarities.1
Both are from humble
backgrounds. Born in a council
flat, Carole worked as a shop girl
and airhostess before marrying a
young businessman who became a
multi-millionaire. Doria’s ancestors
worked on a slave plantation, and her
childhood was spent moving around
as her parents struggled to find work.2
They both know what it’s like
to be sneered at. Snobs have
mocked Carole’s airs. Doria has
experienced shameful racism.3
They’re serious about staying in
shape. Carole swims, plays
tennis and has regular spa
treatments, while Doria is a devotee
of yoga and running, and follows a
California “wellness” guru.4
Both are behind their daughters.
While it may not be strictly true
Carole sent Kate to a Scottish
university in the hope she’d meet
Prince William, there’s no doubting her
ambition for her children, or readiness
to splash out on their education. Doria,
too, paid for Meghan to attend one of
Hollywood’s most exclusive schools.5
They both have embarrassing
relatives. Doria’s ex-stepchildren,
Samantha Grant and Thomas
Markle, have been in the press,
badmouthing Meghan and landing
in trouble. Carole’s brother Gary
Goldsmith was fined and described
by a judge as a “lout” last November
for punching his wife in a street brawl.A ROYAL special