Presenter forced to issue apology to Meghan Markle over false claims about her mum

A GB News presenter was forced to issue an on-air live apology to Meghan Markle after making false claims on TV about her mum, Doria Ragland.

During an episode of Britain’s Newsroom on December 4, broadcaster and regular on the UK news show, Carole Malone, 71, repeated a baseless conspiracy theory she had read online that the Duchess of Sussex's mother was jailed when Meghan was a child so her dad Thomas Markle had to solely care for her.

This is a false theory that has circulated online for years and is completely untrue.

At the time of making the remarks, Malone was discussing the swirling press reports that Meghan had allegedly not spoken to her estranged father after he recently underwent emergency surgery in the Philippines.

According to an announcement made by his son, Thomas Markle Sr suffered a blood clot in early December, which resulted in the 81-year-old's left leg needing to be removed below the knee.

However, a rep for the Duchess has since confirmed that 'her correspondence is safely in his hands'.

Anyway, while discussing this whole debacle, as per MailOnline, Malone said Meghan's father had 'brought her up' and 'paid for her private education while her mother was in jail'.

She was pressed on this statement by the panel, who said they 'had never heard that before ever'.

However, the news anchor reportedly doubled down and said the incarceration was 'years ago', adding: "Do you want me to give you a precise date and time?"

According to Deadline, Ofcom, the UK media regulator, received a whopping 805 complaints about Malone’s comments, which were also met with immediate backlash online.

Malone later apologised on December 15, admitting she was wrong and Meghan has 'never been in prison or jail'.

She said: "On Thursday December 4 2025, I stated that Thomas Markle, the Duchess of Sussex's father, brought Meghan up while her mother, Doria Ragland, was in prison.

"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."

Malone issued the apology live on air (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

The presenter added: "This was a genuine error. I accept what I have now been told on behalf of Miss Ragland that she raised her daughter, and that she has never been in prison or jail.

"I apologise sincerely to Miss Ragland and her family for any pain my comments may have caused, and I am happy to set the record straight."

In response, a statement to PEOPLE Magazine from a spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex said: “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.

"Ms. Ragland proudly raised her daughter and has never been in prison. GB News did not apologise 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."

Tyla has contacted a representative for GB News and Malone.