Meghan Markle is speaking to her mum, Doria Ragland, “a lot” and is being supported by friends in the wake of the allegations against her father, HELLO! understands.

The Duchess of Sussex, 45, is said to be “keeping busy” in the wake of her father’s arrest last Friday on suspicion of allegedly possessing child abuse material, over which he has appeared in a Florida court.

Though Doria has remained living in Los Angeles since her daughter returned to the UK in August, the two are still believed to be in close contact.

A friend tells HELLO!: “She speaks to her mum a lot, and Doria has been really supportive. She has a lot on her mind, but she is being supported by friends.” 

Meghan, meanwhile, met up with girlfriends for lunch on Friday outside of London and is keeping busy.

She was most recently seen in public on Tuesday, when she made a joint outing to the European Parliament in Brussels with Prince Harry for the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, an art installation honouring children who have died after being subjected to harm online.

The mother of two had been scheduled to give a speech, but withdrew as she was “not strong enough” to do so.

Meghan’s relationship with mum Doria

Doria has been a constant support for Meghan over the years, and accompanied her daughter in the car as she arrived for her wedding to Harry at St George’s Chapel in 2018.

A source told People Magazine that Meghan and her mother remain “very close” and are “supporting each other” through recent difficult times. 

Meghan is said to “miss” her mother since her move to England, but the paper reported that they reunited on their recent October half-term break with Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.

The Sussexes are also understood to be making early plans for a Christmas in the UK with Doria, HELLO! reported exclusively last month.

Doria, who has a career as a social worker, is known to be a hands-on grandmother and still plays an active role in the family’s lives.

A friend of the couple told HELLO!: “Doria is a big part of the kids’ lives but she has her own life in California. She will of course continue to see the family frequently.”

Latest on Thomas Markle Snr. after his arrest

Doria was married to Thomas Markle Snr. from 1979 until their divorce in 1987, welcoming Meghan in 1981.

The Duchess became estranged from her former TV lighting director father in the run-up to her 2018 wedding after he was caught staging paparazzi photographs.

Thomas Snr. was arrested last Friday for allegedly possessing child sex abuse material and was released on bail by a judge. He has denied ever possessing the imagery.

However, it was reported on Tuesday that he was back in custody for cutting off his electronic tag.

Meghan said previously in a statement that she had been made aware of “troubling and disturbing” allegations about her father in 2019.

According to a report in the Telegraph, it was Doria who helped the FBI identify her former husband Thomas Snr. in the investigation.