The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has offered her followers a festive glimpse into her Californian Christmas preparations, sharing a personal holiday music playlist and a rare, intimate family portrait. The 44-year-old posted a video on Instagram showcasing her seasonal activities, from baking and gift-wrapping to preparing charcuterie boards, all set to a soundtrack of her favourite festive tunes.
Meghan's Personal Holiday Soundtrack
In a move that delighted fans, Meghan curated a list of 16 classic and contemporary Christmas songs that are currently on rotation in the Sussex household. Topping the list was a rendition of 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' by Norah Jones and Laufey, closely followed by the timeless 'Winter Wonderland' performed by Ella Fitzgerald.
While modern classics featured prominently—with Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas is You' at number eight and Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' at nine—the playlist leaned heavily into soulful, jazz-infused standards. Notable inclusions were Frank Sinatra's 'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm', Michael Bublé's 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)', and tracks from legends like Etta James, Otis Redding, and Aretha Franklin.
Meghan captioned the festive post: 'All the sounds of the season. Here is my personal list of favorite holiday songs on rotation in our home this time of year.' She signed off by wishing her followers a 'safe and cozy Christmas'.
A Rare Family Portrait and Philanthropic Rebrand
This musical reveal follows the release last week of the clearest photo to date of the Sussex children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four. The carefully composed family portrait, shared on Instagram, showed Prince Harry cupping his son's head affectionately as they smiled at each other. Meghan was pictured resting her forehead against her daughter's, with Lilibet's strawberry blonde hair covering her face in the dappled California sunshine.
The portrait was part of a coordinated series of releases from the couple's office. Alongside a 'Happy Holidays' video showing the children helping deliver food to the poor in Los Angeles, the Sussexes announced a significant rebrand of their charitable foundation.
The Archewell Foundation will now be known as Archewell Philanthropies, marking a strategic shift five years after its creation following 'Megxit'. A spokesman stated the change signifies a moment to 'broaden their global philanthropic efforts as a family, with meaningful reach and maximum impact.' The foundation's work this year has focused on safer digital spaces, responsible AI development, and aid for children affected by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
Curated Glimpses and Public Reaction
The festive releases represent a continued strategy of offering the public meticulously curated glimpses into the Sussexes' private life. While the children's faces remain partially obscured, the latest portrait and video provide more detail than previous communications.
The couple's holiday card for 2024, released simultaneously, featured only Meghan and Harry holding hands in the snow during the Invictus Games in Canada—a departure from last year's family-focused card.
The rebrand to Archewell Philanthropies has sparked mixed reactions. While the couple's office frames it as an evolution for greater global impact, some commentators have been less charitable. Royal commentator Phil Dampier remarked: 'Archewell Philanthropies? Sounds like a chemist's. They have truly gone bonkers. Sorry, even more bonkers.'
Nevertheless, the dual release of festive personal content and substantive charitable news underscores the Sussexes' blend of modern celebrity engagement with their ongoing philanthropic mission, all while carefully controlling the narrative around their young family as the holiday season begins.
