Doria Ragland was the only member of Meghan Markle's side of the family to attend the royal wedding, but the mother of the bride did not mind sitting alone as she watched her daughter marry the Prince of England.
Dora Ragland, who wore a stunning pastel green Oscar de la Renta dress and coat (designed by creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia), took her seat in the second row of one of the side pews inside St. George's Chapel, where her daughter's wedding to Prince Harry took place on Saturday.
Her seat was reportedly right across from Harry's grandmother, aka Queen Elizabeth II, who sat beside Prince Philip.
Cameras captured Ragland as she was overcome with emotion throughout the ceremony, particularly when Meghan and Harry exchanged their vows.
On social media, people commended Meghan's mother for attending and sitting at the wedding alone. Doria Ragland divorced Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr., in 1987, and it was announced that he was unable to attend the wedding after suffering a heart attack earlier this week.
"Beautifiully [sic] dressed Doria sitting alone in such a beautiful historical moment shows strength, & grace that must be an inspiration to Meghan," one user wrote. "This is the reality of many single parents."
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"Kudos to #DoriaRagland for sitting there alone representing," another said. "It can't be easy with all that pressure and scrutiny."
Royal expert Alastair Bruce spoke with Town and Country leading up to the nuptials, and explained how much input Meghan and Harry have in deciding who gets invited and who sits where at the wedding.
"It’s very much a matter for the bride and the groom," Bruce said, adding that the couple enlists the help of The Lord Chamberlain's Office when deciding the seating chart. "They will assist him. They know the layout of St. George’s Chapel, and they will guide him."
