The Duchess of Sussex has offered a heartwarming glimpse into the festive customs she and Prince Harry have established for their young family in California, marking another holiday season spent away from the traditional Royal Family gathering at Sandringham.
A Californian Christmas for the Sussexes
In a previous interview with Marie Claire, Meghan Markle expressed her profound love for the holiday season, noting that "every year it gets better" as her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, grow older. The family has celebrated Christmas in the United States for the past several years, typically with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, who also resides in California.
Meghan reflected on the evolving experience of motherhood during the festivities. She explained that initially, parents simply enjoy their children's presence before they fully comprehend the celebrations. "But now we're at the age where I just can't wait to see it through their lens every year," the Duchess shared, highlighting her excitement for Archie and Lilibet's growing understanding and joy.
Sweet Rituals and Low-Key Celebrations
The Sussex family has embraced charming seasonal rituals that will be familiar to many parents. According to reports, a key tradition involves the children leaving "carrots for the reindeer" on Christmas Eve, a magical practice that fuels childhood imagination.
Furthermore, Meghan characterised the family's approach to Thanksgiving, which precedes their Christmas celebrations, as "always pretty low-key." She emphasised the value of proximity to her mother, stating simply that "being close to my mom is great." This underscores the central role Doria plays in their family life across both American holidays.
A Divergence from Royal Tradition
This year's arrangements continue a pattern established since the birth of Prince Archie. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not spent Christmas in the United Kingdom since 2018, and neither Archie nor Lilibet has experienced the festive period with the wider Royal Family at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The timeline of their holiday locations is telling:
- In 2019, for Archie's first Christmas, the family was in Canada.
- By 2020, they had permanently relocated to California, where they have celebrated since.
Meanwhile, other members of the Royal Family, including King Charles III and Queen Camilla, are expected to convene at Sandringham as per tradition. This geographical separation during the holidays highlights the distinct path Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have forged since stepping back from their roles as senior working royals.
