The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no doubt looking forward to another family Christmas in Montecito.
Prince Harry and Meghan will celebrate the holidays with Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, and are likely to be joined by the Duchess’ mother, Doria Ragland.
In an interview with Marie Claire last month, Meghan revealed that Archie and Lilibet have their own Christmas traditions, including leaving out “carrots for the reindeer”.
Harry also shared in his memoir, Spare, that he and Meghan also still follow some of the royal family’s traditions, despite stepping back from their duties in 2020.
“It was Christmas Eve. We FaceTimed with several friends, including a few in Britain. We watched Archie running around the tree. And we opened presents. Keeping to the Windsor family tradition,” he wrote.
The Sussexes also love to share their own Christmas card each year, with the couple sharing a photograph of daughter Lilibet for the first time in their 2021 offering.
Although the children have featured on their cards, last year, Harry and Meghan chose unexpected images for 2022 and 2023.
Keep reading to see more…
2019
Harry and Meghan marked Archie’s first Christmas in Canada during their extended family break – and just weeks before they announced they would be stepping back from royal duties.
The seven-month-old tot took centre stage in the adorable snap, while his proud parents can be seen laughing in the background in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
The card was first shared by the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, when the Duke and Duchess were President and Vice-President of the Trust respectively.
2020
The Sussexes celebrated their very first Christmas in their Montecito home in 2020. To mark the occasion, they shared this stunning artistic rendering of them as a family playing outside with their pet dogs, Guy and Pula.
Little Archie, then 18 months, was pictured sitting on his father Harry’s lap at the door of his play house.
Meghan’s former patronage, Mayhew animal charity, were chosen to share the card.
Mayhew’s former CEO Caroline Yates previously told HELLO! in January 2021 that they were “really thrilled” to be given the honour.
“We had no idea what it would look like before we got the photo, and when we saw it, we thought, ‘Oh wow!’ It’s very family-oriented, it was really lovely,” she told HELLO! at the time.
2021
Lilibet made her public debut to the world on the Sussexes’ 2021 Christmas card. Taken by Harry and Meghan’s wedding photographer, Alexi Lubomirski, the sweet portrait shows Meghan lifting up a then six-month-old baby Lilibet, while proud dad Harry beams with his mini-me son Archie sitting in his lap.
The message on the card read: “Happy Holidays. This year, 2021, we welcomed our daughter, Lilibet, to the world. Archie made us a ‘Mama’ and a ‘Papa’, and Lili made us a family. “
2022
© ArchewellArchie and Lilibet did not feature on Harry and Meghan’s 2022 Christmas card.
The image, shared by the couple’s Archewell Foundation, was taken when the Sussexes attended the Ripple of Hope Awards gala in New York.
The message read: “Wishing you a joyful holiday season. From our family to yours, and on behalf of our teams at Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio, and Archewell Productions, we wish you health, peace and a Happy New Year.”
It was signed: “Best wishes, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
The card was released just three days after the second part of Harry and Meghan’s headline-making docuseries dropped on Netflix.
2023
Archie and Lilibet also did not feature on Harry and Meghan’s Christmas card last year. Instead the couple chose an image from the Invictus Games closing ceremony in Dusseldorf, with Harry in a dark suit and Meghan in a strapless turquoise dress.
© Archewell FoundationThe message read: “Wishing you a joyful holiday season. From our family to yours, and on behalf of our teams at Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio, and Archewell Productions, we wish you health, peace and a Happy New Year.”
It was signed: “Best wishes, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
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