Doria's royal whirlwind: Meghan's mother is whisked straight from the airport to a 'jolly tea' with Charles and Camilla then spends the night at Kensington Palace - and she'll meet the Queen tomorrow
- Doria Ragland spent the night at Kensington Palace after arriving in the UK
- She had a 'jolly' tea with Prince Charles and Camilla and got on 'extremely well'
- Today she met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family at Windsor
- Buckingham Palace said that Doria, 62, would meet the Queen on Friday
- Doria will stay at the palace until Friday before heading to Cliveden House
- She is favourite to walk her daughter down the aisle after her father's withdrawal
Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, has had the royal red carpet rolled out for her ahead of the royal wedding on Saturday.
Hours after arriving in the UK yesterday, the bride’s mother was treated to tea at Clarence House with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, it can be revealed.
Prince Harry and Meghan were there for the gathering, which took place in the late afternoon. MailOnline understands the tea party was ‘very jolly’ and Charles and Camilla got on ‘extremely well’ with Doria.
She then spent the night at Kensington Palace, before meeting the Duke of Duchess of Cambridge and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, at Windsor this afternoon.
Doria, 62, is expected to meet the Queen on Friday during a whirlwind introduction to the royal family after arriving from Los Angeles.
![Doria Ragland, 62, is meeting most of the senior royals today just 24 hours after arriving from Los Angeles (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/16/4C4BBE9800000578-5739399-image-a-213_1526569938731.jpg)
![Charles and Camilla have been pictured leaving Kensington Palace by helicopter today where they are expected to have met Meghan's mother Doria mother for the first time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/16/4C5A658500000578-5739399-Charles_and_Camilla_have_been_pictured_leaving_Kensington_Palace-m-212_1526569930125.jpg)
Doria (left, leaving her home in LA on Tuesday, is supporting her daughter through the continuing drama over her father Thomas Markle's involvement in the wedding and met Charles and Camilla (right at Kensington Palace today)
![The Queen has travelled to Windsor from Buckingham Palace today before a teatime meeting and helping the couple with their final wedding preparations and meet Meghan's mother](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/16/4C5C9A3900000578-5739399-The_Queen_has_travelled_to_Windsor_from_Buckingham_Palace_today_-a-217_1526570204712.jpg)
The Queen has travelled to Windsor from Buckingham Palace today before a teatime meeting and helping the couple with their final wedding preparations and meet Meghan's mother
![An aide carrying a large bouquet of flowers following behind Charles and Camilla today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/12/4C5A65A000000578-5739399-image-m-68_1526558150050.jpg)
An aide carrying a large bouquet of flowers following behind Charles and Camilla today
![The couple then flew to the National Arboretum in Staffordshire by helicopter (pictured) where a permanent national memorial to the British victims of overseas terrorism has been unveiled](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/13/4C5A498100000578-5739399-image-a-72_1526558714550.jpg)
The couple then flew to the National Arboretum in Staffordshire by helicopter (pictured) where a permanent national memorial to the British victims of overseas terrorism has been unveiled
It was unclear whether she joined Meghan and Harry as the couple took part in wedding rehearsals in Windsor today.
She is widely tipped to walk her daughter down the aisle on Saturday after Meghan confirmed her father Thomas will not attend the royal wedding after days of chaos caused by his health and a paparazzi scandal.
Prince Charles and Prince William are also among the favourites to give her away if she doesn't step in.
Doria spent the night at Kensington Palace after being reunited with her daughter yesterday.
She was whisked off to the royal residence after touching down at Heathrow following a ten hour flight from Los Angeles.
The yoga teacher and social worker will now stay at the palace in west London until the day before the wedding on Saturday.
She is due to play a bigger part in proceedings than first imagined, after her daughter released a statement today confirming her father would not be attending.
Meghan said: 'Sadly my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health’.
She added: ‘I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday'.
![Doria Ragland, pictured with Meghan, was whisked off to the royal residence after arriving in the UK yesterday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/08/4C3C828A00000578-0-image-m-15_1526541358427.jpg)
Doria Ragland, pictured with Meghan, was whisked off to the royal residence after arriving in the UK yesterday
![She was met at Heathrow by some of Prince Harry’s most trusted aides and taken to Kensington Palace by royal Jaguar](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/08/4C52D60400000578-5739399-image-a-39_1526542097747.jpg)
She was met at Heathrow by some of Prince Harry’s most trusted aides and taken to Kensington Palace by royal Jaguar
![Meghan Markle has described her sadness after revealing her father will not attend her wedding to Prince Harry](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/11/4C5A33C600000578-5739473-image-a-38_1526553298536.jpg)
Meghan Markle has described her sadness after revealing her father will not attend her wedding to Prince Harry
On Friday evening she will move with the bridal party to the historic Cliveden House in Taplow, Berkshire, a 25 minute drive from Windsor Castle.
After being rushed through a private VIP terminal in the US, Miss Ragland flew into Heathrow where she was met by some of Prince Harry’s most trusted aides and taken to Kensington Palace by royal Jaguar.
The presence of Miss Ragland who is extremely close to her daughter and still calls her ‘flower’, will undoubtedly calm Miss Markle’s nerves in what has been an unexpectedly fraught and hugely emotional week.
![Miss Ragland is now supporting her daughter through the continuing drama over whether her father will attend the wedding](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/08/4C565FA100000578-0-image-a-9_1526540683564.jpg)
Miss Ragland is now supporting her daughter through the continuing drama over whether her father will attend the wedding
Miss Markle, 36, has told her former Hollywood lighting director father that she is standing by him after weekend allegations that he was paid by a paparazzi to take part in a series of staged photographs in the run up to the big day.
Mr Markle flip-flopped over whether he will attend, at first appearing to say he would not, then saying he didn’t want to miss being a part of history and then changing his mind again to say it would depend on whether doctors would release him from hospital.
Meghan was then forced to confirm he was not coming.
The episode has been a huge embarrassment to Buckingham Palace and has left aides facing questions over their handling of their issue.
Sources insisted, however, that strenuous efforts have been made to help Mr Markle, who is said to be a ‘proud’ man and reluctant to take help from his daughter.
They said that Meghan and Harry were forging ahead with their final preparations.
Friends of the couple told the Mail that while Meghan is ‘deeply concerned’ about her father’s physical and mental health, she is determined to focus on what she has left to do.
![On Friday evening she will move with the bridal party to the historic Cliveden House in Taplow, Berkshire, a 25 minute drive from Windsor Castle](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/07/4C3866A500000578-0-image-a-1_1526539885766.jpg)
On Friday evening she will move with the bridal party to the historic Cliveden House in Taplow, Berkshire, a 25 minute drive from Windsor Castle
![Meghan Markle's Suits co-star, actress Sarah Rafferty, pictured outside Buckingham Palace with her daughters Oona and Iris](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/09/4C596C2300000578-5739399-image-m-8_1526547463940.jpg)
Meghan Markle's Suits co-star, actress Sarah Rafferty, pictured outside Buckingham Palace with her daughters Oona and Iris
![Meghan with best friend Jessica Mulroney](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/10/4C561AC600000578-5739399-image-a-14_1526547735388.jpg)
![Misha Nonoo](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/10/4C5286DE00000578-5739399-image-m-13_1526547725439.jpg)
Meghan with Jessica Mulroney (left) who is also in London with her three children, and Misha Nonoo, (right) the couple's rumoured matchmaker, shared a black and white snap of her in the capital
![Fellow Suits actor Gabriel Macht and wife Jacinda Barrett, who also starred in the show, arrived in London over the weekend](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/10/4C54760600000578-5739399-image-m-15_1526548046162.jpg)
Fellow Suits actor Gabriel Macht and wife Jacinda Barrett, who also starred in the show, arrived in London over the weekend
![Jessica Mulroney's children, including twins Brian and John, and daughter Ivy who will all be at the wedding](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/10/4C5124B900000578-5739399-image-a-16_1526548478437.jpg)
Jessica Mulroney's children, including twins Brian and John, and daughter Ivy who will all be at the wedding
It comes as Meghan's glamorous posse of friends have begun arriving in London.
Her best friend Jessica Mulroney has arrived with her three children – Ivy, Brian and John – who were yesterday announced as being among the couple’s ten bridesmaids and page boys.
Prince Harry and Meghan's rumoured matchmaker Misha Nonoo has also arrived in London, sharing a black-and-white snap of herself in the capital captioned '#womnonthego'.
Meanwhile, Meghan's former co-stars are also making their way across the Atlantic, with Suits actor Rick Hoffman revealing on Instagram that he was heading east for a 'special event'.
Fellow Suits actor Gabriel Macht and wife Jacinda Barrett, who also starred in the show, arrived in London over the weekend and have been sharing snaps of themselves sight-seeing in the capital.
![Windsor is continuing its preparations for the royal wedding on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/08/4C50F68A00000578-0-image-a-13_1526540848496.jpg)
Windsor is continuing its preparations for the royal wedding on Saturday
![Royal fans are already lining the route of the procession, including fanatic Donna Werner, who travelled from the U.S. to get a glimpse of Prince Harry and Meghan](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/10/4C50FC7200000578-5739399-Royal_fanatic_Donna_Werner_who_travelled_from_the_U_S_to_get_a_g-a-36_1526550263072.jpg)
Royal fans are already lining the route of the procession, including fanatic Donna Werner, who travelled from the U.S. to get a glimpse of Prince Harry and Meghan
![Royal fans, who bundled up in flags and clothing bearing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's faces, set up camp behind barriers on the route the royal procession will take through Windsor](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/10/4C593DD300000578-5739399-Royal_fans_who_bundled_up_in_flags_and_clothing_bearing_Prince_H-a-39_1526550307038.jpg)
Royal fans, who bundled up in flags and clothing bearing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's faces, set up camp behind barriers on the route the royal procession will take through Windsor
![People who spent the night outside Windsor Castle pose for a photo early on Thursday morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/10/4C58DF4A00000578-5739399-People_who_spent_the_night_outside_Windsor_Castle_in_Windsor_Eng-a-40_1526550325259.jpg)
People who spent the night outside Windsor Castle pose for a photo early on Thursday morning
Meghan Markle's Suits co-star, actress Sarah Rafferty, pictured outside Buckingham Palace with her daughters Oona and Iris after arriving from the US.
Meanwhile Miss Ragland, who has reportedly quit her job at a mental health clinic to start her own private practice, flew into Heathrow on an overnight flight from Los Angeles.
Dressed casually in a T-shirt, linen trousers and canvas pumps, and carrying a suit bag containing what is believed to be her Burberry wedding outfit, she was picked up from the steps of the aircraft by a royal fleet Jaguar.
She was driven to Heathrow’s VIP Windsor suite, where Harry’s assistant private secretary Amy Pickerill was waiting with an immigration officer. A member of staff from the private office carried her bags.
![Military personnel walk the processional route around Windsor Castle on Thursday morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/10/4C59CA9800000578-5739399-Military_personnel_walk_the_processional_route_around_Windsor_Ca-a-44_1526550349363.jpg)
Military personnel walk the processional route around Windsor Castle on Thursday morning
![Royal wedding fever is gripping the nation and fans have already set up camp along the procession route](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/17/08/4C50D72000000578-0-image-a-10_1526540700554.jpg)
Royal wedding fever is gripping the nation and fans have already set up camp along the procession route
It is widely thought that should her former husband, with whom she is said to be ‘barely on speaking terms’, fail to show, it will be Miss Ragland who has the task of walking her daughter down the aisle. Some royal insiders have also questioned whether Prince Charles might step in to do the honours.
Senior royal sources dismissed reports that the ongoing family ‘soap opera’ had caused opprobrium in the Royal Family.
‘Let’s just say that this is a family well used to personal dramas and everyone feels desperately sorry for Meghan, particularly as it has all happened just days before her wedding day,’ said one.
‘At the end of the day, her father is his own man and she cannot control him.
‘Everyone could not be more supportive of her. Everything is going ahead as planned.’
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