How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Holiday Card with Archie and Lilibet Aligns with Their Desire to Protect Them

Mar. 15, 2025

(Left) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the 2024 ESPY Awards in Hollywood, California on July 11, 2024; (Right) Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in a photo from their 2024 holiday card.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty; ArchewellMeghan MarkleandPrince Harryincluded their childrenPrince ArchieandPrincess Lilibetin their holiday card for the first time in years, but their careful portrayal of their kids connects with a larger parenting philosophy.On Dec. 16, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a multi-photo card for the 2024 holiday season, and one of the six shots showed the couple with their son Archie, 5, and daughter Lilibet, 3. The snap captured the family of four outside with their three dogsGuy, Pula and Momma Mia, and Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s faces weren’t shown as they ran towards their parents.“On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation,” the card’s message said in script on a deep green background. “We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year.“Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2024 holiday card.ArchewellThe collage featured five other pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan during their trips toNigeriaandColombiathis year, and the larger card marked the first time in three years that the couple featured a picture of their children in their holiday well-wishes. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex memorably used their2021 holiday cardto share the first photo of Princess Lilibet, who was born that June, in what doubled as the family of four’s first holiday season together. The sweet snap revealed that Prince Archie inherited Prince Harry’s red hair, which Princess Lilibet has, too!Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, are raising their children outside of the spotlight in Montecito, and a friend told PEOPLE over the summer that the couple is cognizant about protecting their kids.“Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats,” the friend told PEOPLE. “He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.“Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in their 2024 holiday card.Archewell"As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself,” the friend said, referring to the death of Prince Harry’s mother,Princess Diana, in 1997.The Duke of Sussex is also fighting for increased security for his family of four, a battle that he hasfollowed to courtin the U.K. Prince Harry lost a legal challenge to haveautomatic protectionfor himself and his family in the U.K. earlier this year, but has plans to appeal.Prince Harry and Meghan aren’t the only parents of their generation to refrain from showing their children’s faces in online correspondence. The Duke of Sussex’s cousin,Princess Eugenie, doesn’t post pictures showing her young sons' faces. Meanwhile, while her sister,Princess Beatrice, doesn’t maintain a public social media presence, her husbandEdoardo Mapelli Mozzisimilarly doesn’t post photos showing the faces of their daughterSienna, 3, or his 8-year-old son,Christopher Woolf.Princess Lilibet, Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Meghan Markle in a photo shared in “Harry & Meghan” on Netflix.Netflix/YoutubeCan’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were briefly featured in some scenes of their parents' docuseries,Harry & Meghan, which debuted on Netflix in 2022. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also sometimes share snippets about how their kids are doing during their official outings, from Meghan describing her children as “very chatty and sweet” to Prince Harry reiterating that theirlife in Californiais what Princess Diana would have wanted for him.“I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here. It’s a part of my life that I never thought I was going to live,” he said atThe New York TimesDealBook Summit in New York City on Dec. 4. “I feel as though it’s the life that my mom wanted for me. To be able to do the things I’m able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the U.K. — it’s huge. That is a fantastic opportunity and I’m hugely grateful for that.“Prince Harry at The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024.Eugene Gologursky/GettyWhile speaking to PEOPLE during their trip to Nigeria in May, Meghan said that her family is thriving.“We’re just doing great. And happy to be watching our family grow up and evolve. Of course, I’m happy. We’re really happy,” the Duchess of Sussex said.

(Left) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the 2024 ESPY Awards in Hollywood, California on July 11, 2024; (Right) Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in a photo from their 2024 holiday card.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty; Archewell

Kevin Mazur/Getty; Archewell

Meghan MarkleandPrince Harryincluded their childrenPrince ArchieandPrincess Lilibetin their holiday card for the first time in years, but their careful portrayal of their kids connects with a larger parenting philosophy.On Dec. 16, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a multi-photo card for the 2024 holiday season, and one of the six shots showed the couple with their son Archie, 5, and daughter Lilibet, 3. The snap captured the family of four outside with their three dogsGuy, Pula and Momma Mia, and Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s faces weren’t shown as they ran towards their parents.“On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation,” the card’s message said in script on a deep green background. “We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year.“Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2024 holiday card.ArchewellThe collage featured five other pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan during their trips toNigeriaandColombiathis year, and the larger card marked the first time in three years that the couple featured a picture of their children in their holiday well-wishes. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex memorably used their2021 holiday cardto share the first photo of Princess Lilibet, who was born that June, in what doubled as the family of four’s first holiday season together. The sweet snap revealed that Prince Archie inherited Prince Harry’s red hair, which Princess Lilibet has, too!Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, are raising their children outside of the spotlight in Montecito, and a friend told PEOPLE over the summer that the couple is cognizant about protecting their kids.“Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats,” the friend told PEOPLE. “He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.“Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in their 2024 holiday card.Archewell"As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself,” the friend said, referring to the death of Prince Harry’s mother,Princess Diana, in 1997.The Duke of Sussex is also fighting for increased security for his family of four, a battle that he hasfollowed to courtin the U.K. Prince Harry lost a legal challenge to haveautomatic protectionfor himself and his family in the U.K. earlier this year, but has plans to appeal.Prince Harry and Meghan aren’t the only parents of their generation to refrain from showing their children’s faces in online correspondence. The Duke of Sussex’s cousin,Princess Eugenie, doesn’t post pictures showing her young sons' faces. Meanwhile, while her sister,Princess Beatrice, doesn’t maintain a public social media presence, her husbandEdoardo Mapelli Mozzisimilarly doesn’t post photos showing the faces of their daughterSienna, 3, or his 8-year-old son,Christopher Woolf.Princess Lilibet, Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Meghan Markle in a photo shared in “Harry & Meghan” on Netflix.Netflix/YoutubeCan’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were briefly featured in some scenes of their parents' docuseries,Harry & Meghan, which debuted on Netflix in 2022. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also sometimes share snippets about how their kids are doing during their official outings, from Meghan describing her children as “very chatty and sweet” to Prince Harry reiterating that theirlife in Californiais what Princess Diana would have wanted for him.“I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here. It’s a part of my life that I never thought I was going to live,” he said atThe New York TimesDealBook Summit in New York City on Dec. 4. “I feel as though it’s the life that my mom wanted for me. To be able to do the things I’m able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the U.K. — it’s huge. That is a fantastic opportunity and I’m hugely grateful for that.“Prince Harry at The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024.Eugene Gologursky/GettyWhile speaking to PEOPLE during their trip to Nigeria in May, Meghan said that her family is thriving.“We’re just doing great. And happy to be watching our family grow up and evolve. Of course, I’m happy. We’re really happy,” the Duchess of Sussex said.

Meghan MarkleandPrince Harryincluded their childrenPrince ArchieandPrincess Lilibetin their holiday card for the first time in years, but their careful portrayal of their kids connects with a larger parenting philosophy.

On Dec. 16, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a multi-photo card for the 2024 holiday season, and one of the six shots showed the couple with their son Archie, 5, and daughter Lilibet, 3. The snap captured the family of four outside with their three dogsGuy, Pula and Momma Mia, and Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s faces weren’t shown as they ran towards their parents.

“On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation,” the card’s message said in script on a deep green background. “We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2024 holiday card.Archewell

Archewell

The collage featured five other pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan during their trips toNigeriaandColombiathis year, and the larger card marked the first time in three years that the couple featured a picture of their children in their holiday well-wishes. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex memorably used their2021 holiday cardto share the first photo of Princess Lilibet, who was born that June, in what doubled as the family of four’s first holiday season together. The sweet snap revealed that Prince Archie inherited Prince Harry’s red hair, which Princess Lilibet has, too!

Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, are raising their children outside of the spotlight in Montecito, and a friend told PEOPLE over the summer that the couple is cognizant about protecting their kids.

“Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats,” the friend told PEOPLE. “He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.”

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in their 2024 holiday card.Archewell

“As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself,” the friend said, referring to the death of Prince Harry’s mother,Princess Diana, in 1997.

The Duke of Sussex is also fighting for increased security for his family of four, a battle that he hasfollowed to courtin the U.K. Prince Harry lost a legal challenge to haveautomatic protectionfor himself and his family in the U.K. earlier this year, but has plans to appeal.

Prince Harry and Meghan aren’t the only parents of their generation to refrain from showing their children’s faces in online correspondence. The Duke of Sussex’s cousin,Princess Eugenie, doesn’t post pictures showing her young sons' faces. Meanwhile, while her sister,Princess Beatrice, doesn’t maintain a public social media presence, her husbandEdoardo Mapelli Mozzisimilarly doesn’t post photos showing the faces of their daughterSienna, 3, or his 8-year-old son,Christopher Woolf.

Princess Lilibet, Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Meghan Markle in a photo shared in “Harry & Meghan” on Netflix.Netflix/Youtube

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were briefly featured in some scenes of their parents' docuseries,Harry & Meghan, which debuted on Netflix in 2022. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also sometimes share snippets about how their kids are doing during their official outings, from Meghan describing her children as “very chatty and sweet” to Prince Harry reiterating that theirlife in Californiais what Princess Diana would have wanted for him.

“I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here. It’s a part of my life that I never thought I was going to live,” he said atThe New York TimesDealBook Summit in New York City on Dec. 4. “I feel as though it’s the life that my mom wanted for me. To be able to do the things I’m able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the U.K. — it’s huge. That is a fantastic opportunity and I’m hugely grateful for that.”

Prince Harry at The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024.Eugene Gologursky/Getty

Eugene Gologursky/Getty

While speaking to PEOPLE during their trip to Nigeria in May, Meghan said that her family is thriving.

“We’re just doing great. And happy to be watching our family grow up and evolve. Of course, I’m happy. We’re really happy,” the Duchess of Sussex said.

source: people.com