A Cozy California Christmas: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Festive Celebrations in Montecito 2025

While the British royal family gathered at Sandringham for their traditional Christmas Day church service on December 25, 2025, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted for a relaxed, intimate holiday at their Montecito home with their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. This marks yet another year the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have celebrated away from the royals, a pattern that began after their last Sandringham Christmas in 2018.

In a heartfelt newsletter sent to subscribers of her lifestyle brand As Ever on Christmas morning, Meghan shared rare insights into their family traditions, painting a picture of warmth and simplicity far removed from the formalities of royal festivities. “Last night, I was nibbling the remnants of our Christmas Eve feast (dim sum this year), wrapping a few last minute gifts, and tip-toeing down the stairs with my husband to make sure ‘Santa’ had enjoyed his cookies and ‘the reindeer’ had eaten their carrots—anything to maintain the morning magic of Christmas through our children’s eyes,” she wrote.

Meghan described plans for a laid-back day: “I plan to spend today cuddled up with my family—maybe pajamas all day, some Scrabble or Sequence (or Candyland for the kids), music playing, candles flickering, dogs snoring, endless grazing; the laughter, the sidebars, the deep breaths (you know the ones), the fun, and the memories.” She extended warm wishes to readers, hoping they felt the holiday spirit “whether you’re cozied up in your pajamas like we are, or dressed to the nines.”

The Sussexes’ celebrations emphasize child-centered joy. Meghan has previously highlighted personalized traditions, such as handmade festive crackers filled with thoughtful items—a love letter and chocolate for Harry, hamburger-themed goodies for Archie, and a lavender roller ball for Lilibet. In her recent Netflix special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, she showcased family rituals like embroidered advent calendars with daily notes and treats, underscoring how the season “gets better every year” as Archie and Lilibet grow.

This California Christmas comes amid ongoing estrangement from the royal family. Reports confirm no invitation was extended to Sandringham this year, continuing the separation that followed their 2020 step back from senior royal duties. Harry and Meghan have built new traditions in Montecito, often incorporating Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, and focusing on privacy for their young family.

Earlier in December, the couple released a touching holiday card featuring a candid family photo on a wooden bridge in their garden, with Archie hugging Harry and Meghan sharing a tender moment with Lilibet. The image, captioned “Happy Holidays! From our family to yours,” captured the essence of their close-knit life in the U.S.

For the Sussexes, Christmas 2025 appears to be about creating magical, low-key memories at home—prioritizing the wonder through their children’s eyes over public traditions. As Meghan signed off her newsletter, “From my family to yours—Happy Holidays!” it reflects a season of gratitude, family bonds, and new beginnings in their American chapter.