Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 2024 Holiday Card: The Deeper Meaning of the Photos They Chose

Mar. 15, 2025

Meghan MarkleandPrince Harryfeatured their childrenPrince ArchieandPrincess Lilibetin theirholiday cardfor the first time in years, but the five other photos they chose were also loaded with meaning.

“On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation,” said the message from the couple’s office, production company and charitable foundation. “We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year.”

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

Archewell

Though the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have sentpictures with their kidsas their holiday greetings previously, they hadn’t done so since 2021. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were last seen briefly in some scenes of their parents' docuseriesHarry & Meghanon Netflix, which debuted in December 2022. Two years later, Archie and Lilibet looked that much more grown up. Both kids were taller, and Lilibet’s hair was long, calling back to Harry’s previous comment that his children were “blessed with their mother’s thick hair.”

The shot didn’t show Archie and Lili’s faces, aligning with Harry and Meghan’sconscientious choiceto keep their kids' lives private.

“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,” a friend told PEOPLE over the summer.

Prince Harry, Princess Lilibet, Meghan Markle and Prince Archie 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 fate of Prince Harry’s late mother,Princess Diana.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in San Basilio de Palenque in Cartagena, Colombia on Aug. 17, 2024.Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty

Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty

The other five pictures in Prince Harry and Meghan’s multi-photo card were from the couple’s trips toNigeriain May andColombiain August. The five pictures were all previously seen and captured the couple on the ground during each excursion.

Photos chosen from the trip to Colombia included Meghan hugging a young student at Colegio La Giralda, Harrykissing Meghan’s headin a tender moment at a stop at the National Centre for the Arts in Bogotá and the couple in San Basilio de Palenque near Cartagena, established as the first free African town in the Americas in 1619. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Colombia to further the work of their charitable Archewell Foundation and other close causes, and the foundationsaidit gave contributions to benefit Colegio La Giralda and San Basilio de Palenque.

Meghan Markle at Colegio La Giralda in Bogota, Colombia on Aug. 16, 2024.Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty

The other picture in the holiday card of Harry and Meghan in Nigeria showed the couple sharing a laugh at Lightway Academy in Abuja, which was thefirst stopof the trip. The trip to Nigeria was memorable as their first official international tour since stepping back from their royal roles in 2020. The couple’s school visit coincided with the announcement of the expansion of the partnership between GEANCO and the Archewell Foundation, and it was revealed then that Archewell’s existing initiative dedicated to serving girls and young women in Nigeria with menstrual health products and educational services would now include mental health support for young people.

Like the trip to Colombia, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Nigeria tour was all about furthering Archwell’s philanthropic work, and Prince Harry opened up to PEOPLE about the power of direct connection.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Lightway Academy in Abuja, Nigeria on May 10, 2024.KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty

KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty

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“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,” the Duke of Sussex said in Nigeria.

“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.

Looking forward to the future, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are anticipatingmore travelfor their core work.

source: people.com