Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘have a second secret Christmas card’ for friends and family – and their ‘happy holidays card’ was just for professional use
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle caused a storm with the release of their ‘holiday’ card this week – but it appears the couple have a second, private card too.
The season’s greetings from the Archewell Foundation featured a photograph of the couple’s rarely seen children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, for the first time in years.
It also showcased the highlights of the Sussexes’ year, including pictures from their four-day visit to Colombia in August.
Despite the intimate pictures, the card struck a formal tone, simply reading: ‘On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation, we wish you a very happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.’
This is because the card is only intended for professional use, and the Sussexes in fact have a second, private card which they have sent only to close friends and family, and members of their inner circle, according to People Magazine.
The card will not be shared publicly, but will likely share more sweet insights into family life – more similar to the personal cards Meghan and Harry shared in previous years.
Despite stepping down as working royals in 2020, the couple have continued the tradition of releasing a Christmas card each year.
This year’s version confirmed Harry and Meghan’s desire to keep their children out of the spotlight, with both Archie and Lili facing away from the camera at a distance.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also have a second, private Christmas card for friends and family, it is understood. Pictured during their Colombia visit in August
The season’s greetings from the Archewell Foundation featured a photograph of the couple’s rarely seen children Prince Archie , five, and Princess Lilibet, three, for the first time in years
By contrast, in 2021, Harry and Meghan’s Christmas card gave the first look at baby Lilibet Diana and even revealed Archie’s face.
In 2019, their card showed baby Archie crawling towards the camera lens.
The last official photograph of Princess Lilibet was released on the occasion of her first birthday, when the Sussexes gave the world a rare glimpse of their daughter.
Little has been seen of the princess since photos released to mark her first birthday at Frogmore Cottage during the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, with a friend telling People over the summer: ‘Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats.
‘He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.
‘As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.’
The card was shared on X/Twitter by the Sussexes’ long-time friend and royal reporter Omid Scobie.
Scobie, who wrote the couple’s biography Finding Freedom, captioned his post: ‘The Sussexes share highlights of their year on the 2024 Archewell holiday card.’
It also showcased the highlights of the Sussexes’ year, including pictures from their four-day visit to Colombia in August
The last official photograph of Princess Lilibet was released on the occasion of her first birthday in June, 2022, when the Sussexes gave the world a rare glimpse of their daughter
In 2021, Harry and Meghan’s Christmas card gave the first look at baby Lilibet Diana and even revealed Archie’s face
In 2019, their card showed baby Archie crawling towards the camera lens
One of the pictures featured on the festive card showed Princess Lilibet running into Prince Harry’s waiting arms, while Meghan, 42, held her arms open for a hug from Prince Archie.
The couple’s three dogs were also a part of the family portrait that was released on Monday.
Reacting to the image, royal fans said they couldn’t believe how old Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, had become – with Harry and Meghan’s children rarely being spotted in public.
One comment read: ‘The kids are so big.’
Another person added: ‘Look at the kids. They have grown so much.’
A third X user noted the children’s bright red hair, like their father, the Duke of Sussex.
The card also included a personal message from the Sussexes, which read: ‘On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundations.
‘We wish you a very Happy Holiday Season and a joyful new year.’
The Sussexes during their visit to Nigeria in May
Prince Harry and Meghan recently released their new Netflix docuseries about polo that has been widely panned by critics
Prince Harry during a visit to the the wards of the Nigerian military hospital Kaduna
Several people were delighted to see a ‘glimpse of the kiddos’ on the new card, with one person adding: ‘So cute to see a picture of their children.
‘They are really redheads!’
Another comment read: ‘Okay so of course I went right to the photo of the kids!! Red heads!! Just like my grandkids!! I love it!!’
A third user exclaimed: ‘Omg. There [sic] babies have such red hair!!’
While their new ‘holiday’ card celebrates some of the couple’s milestone moments, Harry and Meghan’s latest project – a Netflix docuseries about posh polo – has received scathing reviews from critics.
The five-part docuseries, which was released on December 10, centres around the build-up to the polo World Cup in Florida and mainly focuses on players such as Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, Timmy Dutta, and Nacho Figueras.
The documentary, part of Harry and Meghans £80m-deal with Netflix, promised that it would showcase the ‘true depth and spirit of the sport’ as well as the ‘intensity of its high-stakes moments’.
Following its release, however, any hope that Polo would join the ranks of great sport documentaries such as Disney +’s Welcome to Wrexham and 2020’s The Last Dance, were quickly dashed – with critics largely panning the ‘boring’ series.
Receiving two stars or less out of five across the board, the programme has been labelled ‘a tedious inside-look at posh polo’ and a ‘mostly boring look at a sport that very few people outside of elite circles have any particular interest in’.
A still from Harry and Meghan’s new Netflix docuseries Polo that was released on December 10
Harry and Meghan, who served as executive producers of the series, make a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in the documentary, with fans having to wait until episode five to catch a glimpse of the couple.
The Telegraph’s Ed Power noted there was ‘not enough of the Sussexes to make this anything other than a dull indulgence about a rich person’s pursuit’.
Earlier this month, it was revealed Prince Harry and Meghan will not be joining the royal family for Christmas this year as they have reportedly not been invited to the festivities.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex haven’t received an invitation to the royals‘ Christmas at Sandringham, it has been reported.
They are expected to spend the festive holidays in America instead with their children Archie and Lilibet.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to Montecito, California, after they stepped down as senior members of The Firm in January 2020.
Meghan previously revealed how the Sussexes celebrate the holidays in America in an interview with Marie Claire, noting the festivities are always ‘low-key’.
She said: ‘We’re always making sure we have something to do,’ the Duchess told the magazine. ‘Like any other family, you spend time having a great meal and then what do you do? Play games, all the same stuff, someone brings a guitar – fun.’
The former Suits actress also stressed the importance of making ‘room at your table for your friends who don’t have family’ such as feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who once joined the Sussexes’ Thanksgiving party.
Meghan, who married Harry in 2018, added it is important to the couple that Archie and Lilibet experience the ‘magic’ of festive traditions such as putting out ‘carrots for the reindeer’ at Christmas.
