British News Host Apologizes For Making False Statement About Meghan Markle’s Mother Being In Prison

A British journalist was forced to apologize after falsely claiming on-air that Meghan Markle was raised by her father, Thomas Markle, while her mother, Doria Ragland, was serving time in jail.

Journalist Carole Malone, 71, issued an apology on GB News after appearing on the December 4 episode of Britain’s Newsroom, where she perpetuated the false narrative that Ragland was an absentee mother and had been to jail.

In reality, Markle was raised by her mother, who has never served time in prison nor jail.

“In an episode of Britain’s Newsroom on Thursday, December the 4th, 2025, I stated that Thomas Markle, the Duchess of Sussex’s father, brought Meghan up while her mother, Doria Ragland, was in prison,” Malone said, via Deadline. “I believed this to be the case based on what I now understand to be misinformation I had seen online. I was questioned about the validity of this claim during the broadcast and I repeated this belief, which I now understand to be false.”

“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,” she continued. “I apologize sincerely to Ms. Ragland and her family for any pain my comments may have caused, and I’m happy to set the record straight.”

In a statement to People, the Duchess of Sussex’s representatives chastised the broadcaster for being irresponsible and repeating an already debunked claim about Ragland.

“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 reads. “Ms. Ragland proudly raised her daughter and has never been in prison. 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 24hrs of making it.”