Meghan Markle and Prince Harry live their lives under a microscope. So it's pretty shocking that they've reportedly managed to make multiple secret visits to Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland, according to Cosmopolitan.
Of all Meghan's family members, Doria definitely has the closest relationship to the Duchess of Sussex. Now that Meghan is expecting her first child — Doria's first grandchild — it makes sense that the two would want to spend some extra mother-daughter time together.
While Meghan moved to the UK after her marriage, Doria has opted to stay behind in the US for now. She lives in Los Angeles, California, in the same bungalow that she's lived in since 1994.
Neighbors told the Sun that they've seen Meghan and Harry at the bungalow on multiple occasions.
"Meghan will always come back to Doria, this will always be her home," one neighbor said.
The couple may not need to sneak around for much longer, though. Meghan's mom reportedly has plans to move to the UK once Baby Sussex arrives.
Meghan Markle has a complicated relationship with many of her family members. But her mom, Doria Ragland, seems like a sweet, drama-free, low-key type of woman.
Doria was the only member of Meghan's family to attend her wedding to Prince Harry last spring.
She's so well-liked by the royal family that she was reportedly invited to spend Christmas with them — which never happens!
Doria apparently gets along well with Harry, too.
But despite their great relationship, Doria hasn't been seen in public with Harry and Meghan since they attended Meghan's cookbook launch together in September.
In the months since then, Meghan and Harry announced that they're expecting their first baby. They're due in late April or early May.
Meghan and Harry have both been busy making official trips around the world, attending royal events, and preparing for their move into a bigger home for Baby Sussex.
And they've also been dealing with their own family drama on the other side of the pond — that infamous and probably overblown "feud" between Kate and Meghan.
Meanwhile, Doria said in October that she's thrilled to become a grandmother. "Ms. Ragland is very happy about this lovely news, and she looks forward to welcoming her first grandchild," an official statement read.
So… where has she been?!
Meghan had her first baby shower in New York in February. She invited all of her closest friends, like Jessica Mulroney and Abigail Spencer. Celebrities like Amal Clooney and Serena Williams were also in attendance and even helped plan the event.
But her mom was nowhere to be seen. At the time of the baby shower, Doria was at her house in LA.
According to a report from the Sun, though, Doria and the royal couple have absolutely been spending time together. They just haven't been doing it in the spotlight.
The couple reportedly made a recent secret trip to visit Doria in LA, and this wasn't the first time!
"Meghan is a mommy's girl — their special mother-daughter bond hasn't disappeared just because she's moved to England," a neighbor who lives a few houses down said.
"Meghan will always come back to Doria, this will always be her home," the neighbor added. "They are forever in touch, and Meghan has been here to stay on more than one occasion since going public with Harry."
"I even saw him here once, but it's not my place to say any more," the neighbor concluded.
Royal experts believe that the couple likely stopped in LA on their way back from their official tour of Australia, New Zealand, and other nearby countries.
With their baby due in a few more weeks, they're preparing to move to a house with more space.
The house has room for the new baby, but it also reportedly has a wing just for Grandma Doria.
She reportedly plans to be a very "hands-on" grandma and stay with the couple "on a regular basis."
The new house has 10 bedrooms (an upgrade from Meghan and Harry's current two-bedroom cottage), so there's plenty of space for everyone.
Doria doesn't seem to relish the spotlight, and who can blame her? If she does indeed move to the UK, she'll be able to enjoy mother-daughter time without a million fans examining her every move.
