The Duchess of Sussex has offered her followers a warm festive greeting and a glimpse into her family's holiday soundtrack. Meghan Markle, 44, took to Instagram to wish her audience a "safe and cosy Christmas" while revealing the personal selection of songs she plays "on rotation" at her home in Montecito, California.
A Glimpse into the Sussex Family Festivities
In a video posted on the social media platform, the Duchess is seen engaging in classic Christmas preparations. The footage shows her baking, wrapping presents, cutting ribbons, and preparing food and drinks. The candid scenes provide a rare insight into the Sussexes' private holiday life as they gear up for the celebrations.
The accompanying caption read: "All the sounds of the season. Here is my personal list of favorite holiday songs on rotation in our home this time of year. Wishing you a safe and cozy Christmas! Enjoy." The message notably used American spelling for "cosy", a nod to her current home in the United States.
The Duchess's Curated Christmas Playlist
Meghan's playlist is a carefully curated mix of timeless classics and soulful renditions. It features 16 tracks that span decades and genres. Topping her list is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", specifically the 2023 version by Norah Jones and Laufey. This song, originally performed by Judy Garland, remains a festive staple.
The selection showcases Meghan's eclectic taste, blending jazz, soul, and pop. Highlights include:
- "Ole Santa" by Dinah Washington, released in 1959.
- "Last Christmas" by Wham!, which finally achieved the UK Christmas number one spot in 2023, nearly four decades after its release.
- The perennial favourite, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey.
- Classics from legends like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Otis Redding, and Aretha Franklin.
- A modern take with Michael Bublé's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".
The full list also includes tracks from Ingrid Michaelson, Ray Charles, Eartha Kitt, Etta James, Donny Hathaway, James Taylor, and a live version of "O Holy Night" by Tracy Chapman.
A Seventh Christmas Away from Royal Traditions
This festive season marks the seventh consecutive year that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will spend Christmas separately from the wider Royal Family. The couple, along with their two children—six-year-old Prince Archie and four-year-old Princess Lilibet—are expected to enjoy a quiet, private celebration at their Montecito mansion.
Prince Harry, 41, was once a central figure in the traditional Sandringham festivities, including the famous walk to the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church. His last appearance at the royal family Christmas was in 2018, prior to the couple's step back from official duties and their subsequent move to North America.
Despite the ongoing distance from the institution, the Sussexes have defiantly embraced the festive spirit on their own terms. Their social media activity this week has included not only the playlist and baking video but also the release of their 2025 family Christmas card. This card featured one of the clearest photographs to date of both Archie and Lilibet, who were born in the UK before the family relocated.
Meghan's decision to share these intimate domestic details continues her pattern of connecting directly with the public, bypassing traditional royal channels. It offers a carefully managed window into a family Christmas that is both glamorously Californian and reassuringly familiar in its festive rituals.
