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Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan shared a rare family Christmas photo with their children Archie and Lilibet on December 19th. The photo shows the family of four smiling and hugging each other on a pedestrian bridge outside in the sun. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also released an end-of-the-year video for their nonprofit, newly rebranded as Archewell Philanthropies.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are ending the year with a rare glimpse into their family life. On Friday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a new Christmas photo of their children Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4.
The Instagram photo shows the family of four on a small wooden footbridge surrounded by lush greenery. While Prince Harry smiled at Archie as he hugged him, Meghan leaned over to Lilibet and held her daughter’s hand at eye level. “Happy Holidays! From our family to yours,” Meghan wrote in the caption.
The photo release coincided with other year-end updates from the Sussexes. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan released a two-minute year-end video on their website highlighting the work of their nonprofit organization, now rebranded as Archewell Philanthropies. The clip looks back at the couple’s philanthropic efforts and ends with a cameo from Archie and Lilibet.
The final seconds of the video show Lilibet helping Prince Harry push a trolley full of groceries while Archie walks alongside Meghan. The family volunteered at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, a community-based organization that prepares meals for people in need.
Their holiday messages also signaled the evolution of the nonprofit organization, which launched in 2020. “After five incredible years, the Archewell Foundation is becoming Archewell Charities,” the organization announced in a statement Friday. “Thanks to this charity, the couple and their children will be able to grow their global philanthropic efforts as a family.”
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s family holiday photos and announcement were shared a day after Prince William and Duchess Kate unveiled the family’s annual Christmas card featuring their children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. People reports that the Prince of Wales and Duchess Meghan will spend Christmas with King Charles at his Sandringham estate in England, while the Sussexes will celebrate at their home in Montecito.
On December 3, Duchess Meghan shared how she and Prince Harry are celebrating Christmas in her Netflix special, “With Love, Meghan: A Holiday Celebration.” Meghan made a gumbo pot with guest chef Tom Colicchio and revealed that her mother, Doria Ragland, traditionally makes a gumbo dish on Christmas Eve.
Prince Harry appeared on camera to sample Meghan Markle’s version of the stew, but Meghan warned him it was spicier than her mother’s stew. After taking a bite, Harry joked: “I can feel it hitting the top of my head right now,” before adding with a laugh: “It’s delicious. I’m not sure if it tastes like your mother’s, but it’s definitely close.”
During the special, Meghan also created a large advent calendar for Archie and Lilibet. She included a handwritten note that read, “I love you because you’re so kind” and “I love you because you’re so brave.” After finishing making the gift, she added: “I hope this continues for a long time. Tradition needs a beginning.”
Last year, Meghan opened up to Marie Claire about the joy of celebrating the holidays with her children, saying, “As a mom, I think at first you just enjoy having your kids there, but they don’t understand everything that’s going on yet. But now we’re at an age where we can’t wait to see it through their lens every year.”
