The Duchess of Sussex has provided a rare glimpse into her family's domestic life at their California home, revealing how she, Prince Harry and their two children are preparing for Thanksgiving celebrations.
Family Harvest in Montecito Gardens
In her latest newsletter for lifestyle brand As Ever, the 44-year-old former actress shared intimate details about how the family harvests sage from their garden to season their homemade Thanksgiving feast. The sprawling $30 million Montecito property serves as the backdrop for these family moments, with Meghan describing the sage as among her favourite flavours.
The newsletter clarified that the purple-flowered plants seen in Meghan's Instagram posts throughout the year weren't lavender as many assumed, but rather flowering sage of the Santa Barbara varietal. This revelation came as part of her documentation of the gardening process over the past twelve months.
Sun-Drenched Family Moments
Contrary to being a solo project, the entire family participates in the backyard harvest. Meghan recalled precious family strolls through the garden with Harry, six-year-old Archie, four-year-old Lilibet and their two dogs.
"Those strolls, with Archie and Lili running in tow, her husband checking on the bees, Pula chasing the ball with Mia trying to keep up — those were the sun-drenched moments that made an everyday walk something a bit more magical," the newsletter described.
The sage served as a constant presence during these family moments, with its distinctive purple hue and scent creating the perfect backdrop for their California lifestyle.
From Garden to Gourmet Product
The sweet family anecdote also served to promote As Ever's new product: Sage Honey with Honeycomb, which retails for $32.00 for a 9oz jar. Meghan revealed she was inspired to create the product after adding her homegrown sage to honey harvested from their backyard bees.
The creation quickly became a family favourite and proved popular among friends who received it as gifts. Now, Meghan wants to share this "stunning sage honey, aromatic and earthy, epicurean in its depth of flavour and elegant simplicity" with her supporters.
The official As Ever Instagram account showcased the Duchess looking elegant in a burgundy holiday gown while glazing a turkey at her family dinner table. Additional footage displayed her creating sophisticated table settings featuring cloth napkins tied with green velvet ribbons atop porcelain dishes.
Holiday Traditions and Priorities
Thanksgiving holds special significance for the Duchess, who previously told Marie Claire that celebrations at their Montecito home are "always pretty low-key". She emphasised the importance of ensuring "there's room at the table for your friends who don't have family".
However, her primary focus remains on Archie and Lilibet, with Meghan noting that holidays have become increasingly enjoyable as the children grow older. "We're at the age where I just can't wait to see it through their lens every year," she explained.
For those purchasing her special honey, Meghan provided additional tips for creating an "As Ever Sage Honey Glaze" using Dijon mustard, lemon juice, spices and cooking stock. She envisioned this creation months ago when dreaming up her Holiday Collection, imagining "what it would taste like to have a sage honey drizzled on her Thanksgiving turkey".
Controversy and Career Moves
The latest newsletter follows recent criticism of Meghan's holiday promotions, with some social media users describing her aesthetic as "beige" and "depressing". Critics questioned the absence of traditional Christmas colours and festive cheer in her recent Instagram promotions.
This criticism comes despite Meghan's previous claims that she had to "tone down" her bright style to fit in with Royal Family protocols. In her 2022 Netflix series, she stated she wore "muted tones" to "blend in" and avoid embarrassing the family.
Meanwhile, the Duchess continues to expand her professional portfolio, currently filming Close Personal Friends for Amazon MGM Studios alongside Emily In Paris actress Lily Collins and Captain Marvel star Brie Larson. This marks her return to acting since 2017, signalling new directions in her post-royal career.
