Prince Harry and Meghan Holiday Card Sparks Reactions

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s holiday card warmed hearts with a picture of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet running to greet their mother and father.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are famously protective of their children’s privacy and kept their kids’ faces out of the picture.

Instead Archie, five, and Lili, three, are seen with their backs to camera running into the arms of their parents.

The card sparked reactions from fans on social media welcoming the first new pictures of their children since December 2022, and the release of their Netflix biopic Harry & Meghan.

What they are saying

Afua Hagan, broadcaster and royal expert, told Newsweek: “It’s a really lovely card, they all look great in it and it’s also quite unusual to have that shot of the kids. Lovely to see them running toward mum and dad.

“It’s a bit of a highlight reel for the year. There’s shots from them in Nigeria, there’s one of them in Colombia too. I think it’s a lovely card.

“Yes they want us to see the kids and see that they’re growing up nicely but also protecting their privacy in the way that they want.

“I think that’s good for them, they’re doing what they want to do which is keep the children’s privacy as much as possible but also giving fans a sneak peak. So I think they’ve got the balance right there.”

And on X, formerly Twitter, U.K. commentator Narinder Kaur, a former U.K. Big Brother contestant, wrote: “Haha, I love how they will wind TF out all the haters because: 1. It’s all real and not fake, staged or set up family shots like.

“2. They call Xmas ” happy holidays” making everyone feel included. 3. the genuine CARE bursting out these pix for other’s.

“And to think Prince William and Kate have never met Lilibet. His own brother’s daughter.

“Dreadful really. William and Kate need to make a trip to America and visit them with a box of mince pies.”

And Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, author of This Is Why I Resist, wrote on X: “2 beautiful red haired kids – love God always giving ‘they who laugh last laugh best’.

“Are racist Royal Family member(s) ‘concerned’ about Archie & Lilibet skin colour because their grandma is Black happy now? No. May the Sussexes continue to laugh into 2025 – very cute family.”

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.

Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan Markle and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.