Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may soon show Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's faces to the world, with sources claiming the couple are "getting closer and closer to the big reveal".
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have hidden their children's faces for years, showing the youngsters only from behind or with their faces obscured. However, sources have told publicist Rob Shuter's Naughty But Nice newsletter that the Sussexes are considering a family Christmas card featuring all of them more fully, which could offer what Shuter described as "the clearest look yet" at Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lilibet.
Sources hint at deliberate approach
A source told Shuter: "They're getting closer and closer to the big reveal… First you saw glimpses of the children, then more of their lives, and now you're hearing Lilibet speak. It feels very deliberate. The Christmas card will be the natural next step."
Meghan and Harry have sent public Christmas cards together since 2018, often to draw attention to their philanthropic efforts. Instead of wishing recipients a Merry Christmas, the couple usually opt for "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings".
Previous cards and royal tradition
In 2024, the Sussexes' card featured a photo of Archie and Lilibet from behind as they ran towards their parents, who appeared with outstretched arms to greet them on a garden path. The following year, the four could be seen posing for the camera on an ornamental bridge in a wooded area. That image showed Harry with a hand across Archie's face and Lilibet's hair concealing hers as Meghan bends down, smiling at her daughter, whose hands she holds crossways. This compares to 2019's effort in black and white, which showed a baby Archie looking directly into the camera as his parents appear behind, beaming at their son.
The sending of cards is a longstanding royal tradition also followed by Prince William and Princess Catherine, who often release photos of themselves with their children: Prince George, 13; Princess Charlotte, 11; and Prince George, 8.
Privacy concerns and recent clip
The Sussexes have tended to shield their children's faces in an apparent bid to maintain control of their public image, out of concern for their safety and because of family history. Harry's mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was subject to intense media scrutiny and died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by international paparazzi.
Meghan on Tuesday shared a rare clip of Lilibet, which included her speaking as part of an advertisement for her As Ever brand's Christmas collection, revealing the Princess' US accent. In the clip, Lilibet can be seen making a fruit spread. The video shows the Duchess stirring a pot on the hob, as Lilibet helps her mother using her own bowl and a spoon. Meghan can be heard asking: "What do you think, Lili?" To which Lilibet replies after sampling a taste: "I think it's beautiful."
Archie and Lilibet's security was in the news in September when it emerged that two men were seen looking into the grounds of the children's school. A spokesman branded the pair of international paparazzi as "extraordinarily reckless" after they were spotted by private security and school staff walking the perimeter and monitoring children.
