In a charming glimpse into the Sussex family's holiday traditions, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's heartfelt letter to Father Christmas has been unveiled during the first official trailer for Meghan Markle's festive Netflix special.
The Festive Revelation
During what many viewers might have missed in the glittering preview for With Love, Meghan's 'Holiday Celebration', the Duchess of Sussex shared a touching moment featuring her children's Christmas correspondence. The letter from six-year-old Archie and four-year-old Lilibet had been beautifully printed on a mug using Meghan's signature calligraphy style, creating a personalised family keepsake.
Although the complete message remains partially obscured, visible phrases include 'have been good' and 'travel safely', before being sweetly signed 'Archie & Lili'. The mother-of-two was then shown adding milk into the customised mug while arranging a plate of Christmas-themed cookies, perfectly capturing the spirit of holiday preparations.
Behind the Scenes of the Holiday Special
The promotional trailer, released just hours before the Prince and Princess of Wales attended the prestigious Royal Variety Performance in London on Wednesday, also featured an intimate moment between Prince Harry and his wife sharing a tender kiss. Meghan described the festive season as a time 'to connect with the people we love' while demonstrating various Christmas traditions.
Viewers saw the Duchess preparing seasonal treats including what appeared to be a cabbage slaw dish, which she called 'very festive' due to its vibrant red colour. True to the format of her previous shows, Meghan enlisted help from several celebrity friends including tennis players, chef Tom Colicchio, hospitality expert Will Guidara, philanthropist Kelly McKee Zajfen and longtime friend Lindsay Roth.
'Being a hostess or a host is about making people feel comfortable,' Meghan explained during the trailer, while noting that the gift-giving season was about 'embracing tradition'.
Production Details and Location
The Christmas edition of With Love, Meghan was filmed in Montecito, where the Duke and Duchess reside with their two children. However, contrary to what viewers might assume, the production didn't take place at the Sussexes' $14.65 million (£11.1 million) home but at a nearby $8 million (£6.2 million) farmhouse owned by philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla.
Meghan had previously explained in a March interview with People magazine that she chose not to film in their family home to 'protect her family's safe haven'. The couple's neighbours live just a stone's throw away from their substantial property.
Additional scenes showed Meghan painting snowflake decorations on sweet treats and creating crafted advent calendars containing special notes and gifts. She also promoted three of her £27 ($36) As Ever jams, encouraging fans to 'unwrap the magic' of the holiday season.
The latest instalment of With Love, Meghan is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on December 3 this year. Despite the remarkable success of Harry & Meghan in December 2022, the Duchess's solo venture has yet to break into Netflix's top ten programmes or even rank within the platform's top 300 shows during its previous two seasons.
