The Duchess of Sussex has offered her followers an intimate look at how she and Prince Harry are celebrating the festive season with their young children. In a heartfelt newsletter for her lifestyle brand, As Ever, Meghan Markle, 44, detailed the family's cosy Christmas Day plans and their unique efforts to preserve the "morning magic" for Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
A Montecito Christmas: Feasts, Games and Family Time
In her personal note, the Duchess described a quintessentially relaxed holiday at their home in Montecito, California. She revealed the family enjoyed a "feast" of dim sum on Christmas Eve before ensuring Santa's treats were laid out for the children. For Christmas Day itself, Meghan painted a picture of a day spent "cuddled up with my family," potentially in pyjamas all day, playing board games like Scrabble or Sequence.
She evocatively listed the simple pleasures making up their celebration: "music playing, candles flickering, dogs snoring, endless grazing." The Duchess emphasised the importance of laughter, memories, and deep breaths, extending warm wishes to all her followers regardless of how they were spending the day.
Holiday Sounds and New Family Glimpses
This festive insight follows another personal share from Meghan on Instagram, where she posted a video of her holiday preparations alongside a curated playlist of her 16 favourite holiday songs. Topping the list was 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' by Norah Jones and Laufey, followed by Ella Fitzgerald's 'Winter Wonderland'. Classic hits from Mariah Carey and Wham! also featured prominently.
Accompanying these glimpses, the Sussexes released their clearest official family portrait to date on Instagram. The sun-dappled image shows Prince Harry lovingly cupping Archie's head, while Meghan rests her forehead against Lilibet's. The photo, captioned "Happy Holidays! From our family to yours," was part of a coordinated release that also included a charity-focused video and a separate holiday card featuring only Harry and Meghan.
Archewell Foundation Evolves into 'Philanthropies'
Amidst the personal festive shares, the couple's charitable organisation announced a significant rebrand. The Archewell Foundation is being renamed Archewell Philanthropies, marking a strategic shift five years after its founding. A spokesperson stated the change signifies a next chapter to "broaden their global philanthropic efforts as a family."
The organisation, which derives its name from the Greek word 'arche' (source of action) and 'well', has recently focused on advocating for safer digital spaces, responsible AI development, and funding support for children affected by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. The rebrand has sparked mixed reactions, with some royal commentators questioning the new name.
