Prince Harry Celebrates a Low-Key Christmas with Meghan Markle and Kids

Prince Harry has stepped away from the traditional royal festivities for a more intimate and low-key Christmas celebration with Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. A royal expert recently shared insights into how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex likely spent the holiday, marking it in true American style at their Montecito home.

Speaking to The Mirror, royal biographer Ingrid Seward noted that Harry, who once cherished the royal Christmas traditions, has since embraced his new life in California. “Harry used to see Christmas at Sandringham with the Royal family as the ‘golden ticket,'” Seward explained.

She recalled the festive routine Harry enjoyed with his family, which included Christmas Eve present opening, church services, traditional Christmas lunch, and the Boxing Day pheasant shoot, along with plenty of party games and drinking.

However, since marrying Meghan in 2018, the Duke’s holiday traditions have evolved. Seward pointed out that Harry has only spent one Christmas at Sandringham since their marriage, which took place in 2018. “Instead, he has embraced the traditions of the ‘happy holidays’ favored by his adopted country,” she said.

The expert also mentioned that the only relative Harry has in California is his mother-in-law, Doria Ragland, who was likely with them for the holiday celebrations. The Sussex family is expected to have celebrated Christmas at their Montecito residence, where Meghan, a self-professed homemaker, likely took charge of the holiday decorations.

Seward added, “They will have picked a tree from the rows upon rows of Christmas pines in one of the local stores. Their house will be decorated, and the yard (garden) strung with festive lights.” While wealthy Montecito residents often hire interior designers to handle holiday decorations, Seward believes Meghan would have decorated the house herself.

“It would not look good if Meghan, who publicizes herself as the all-American homemaker, was to hire someone to adorn their house and decorate their tree,” she explained. “She will have done it herself and made the gingerbread house, as is traditional in America.”

This low-key, hands-on approach to the holiday celebrations highlights the Sussexes’ embrace of their new life in California, away from the pomp of royal tradition.