Meghan MarkleandPrince Harryare spreading cheer this holiday season with their children,Prince ArchieandPrincess Lilibet.
On Dec. 16,the Duke and Duchess of Sussex unveiled their 2024 holiday card, featuring a new picture of their kids, Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3. The shot — one of six in the multi-photo greeting — captures the children from behind as they excitedly run toward 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 on a deep green background. The montage featured five other shots of Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, during their trips to Nigeria and Colombia this year. “We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty; Archewell
Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty; Archewell
It’s a rare glimpse of the kids, who were last seen when they were briefly shown in the couple’s docuseriesHarry & Meghan, which debuted on Netflix in December 2022.
PEOPLE understands that while this card is meant for professional use, the family has sent a separate, private card to their close friends and family, which will not be shared publicly.
Over the summer, a friend told PEOPLE that Harry was eager to keep his children’s lives private toprotect them.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie.Archewell
Archewell
“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. He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm,” the friend said.
“As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself,” the friend added, referring to the fate of Harry’s mother,Princess Diana.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation operates with the motto “Show Up, Do Good,” and their work with the organization took them around the world and through the U.S. this year. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex traveled toNigeriain May andColombiain August to further Archewell’s key charitable initiatives, and the organization expanded its U.S. impact with increased programming at home.
This year marked Archewell’s second year ofThe Welcome Project, which helps recently resettled women build community, and launch ofThe Parents Network, a support for families dealing with the effects of online harm. Prince Harry and Meghan’s support for those initiatives took them on the road, from Meghan attendingWelcome Project dinnersin California to Harrypromoting the Parents Networkto advocate for change at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.
“It is hugely important for us to meet directly with people, supporting our causes and listening, in order to bring about solutions, support and positive change,” Prince Harry previously told PEOPLE during the trip to Nigeria about the power of direct connection.
“There’s only so much one can do from home and over Zoom, so we look forward to traveling more because the work matters. Whether it’s the Archewell Foundation, Invictus or any of our other causes, there will always be reasons to meet the people at the heart of our work,” he said.
In 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan used their holiday card to share thefirst photoof their daughter, Princess Lilibet, who was born that June. The snap capturing the family of four also confirmed that Prince Archie inherited his dad’s red hair!
Chris Jackson/Getty
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In 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan’sholiday cardfeatured a black-and-white photo of them holding hands at theRobert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award Galain New York City, where they were honored a few weeks previously. There, they received the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award for their work in racial justice, mental health and social impact through the Archewell Foundation.
The virtual greeting, sent via email on behalf of Archewell, said, “We wish you a very happy holiday season. Thanks for all the support in 2023!”
source: people.com