Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2024 Christmas card has sparked significant debate online, particularly among royal experts.
One commentator has even suggested that the Sussexes may have made a serious error in how they arranged the card. This includes featuring their five-year-old son Archie and three-year-old daughter Lilibet in a way that allegedly violates royal tradition, stating to Tyla that they have “once again broken royal protocol.”
Harry and Meghan’s latest release has sparked a division among their supporters.
The card, which was sent to subscribers of their joint charity, the Archewell Foundation, featured a collage made up of photos from their past year together.
Many of the images were captured during their humanitarian efforts abroad, including from their trip to Colombia in August. One particular photo showed the couple with their children.
In this specific image, Archie and Lilibet, who were photographed in public for the first time in three years for this moment, were seen running towards their parents with their arms open, ready to embrace them.
This photo, however, has faced criticism, with some people suggesting that the image was digitally created, and others questioning if the children truly belong to Harry and Meghan.
The controversy isn’t limited to the image itself, but extends to the very fact that it was presented as a collage.
Grant Harrold, a royal expert and former butler to King Charles III, has weighed in on the debate, accusing Harry and Meghan of severely breaking protocol. Speaking exclusively to Tyla on behalf of Slingo, he pointed out the “mistake” made by the Sussexes, comparing it to the practices of other royal couples.
He explained, “A traditional royal Christmas card we’ve seen from the King or the Princess of Wales is normally just a photograph. Since I’ve been working with the Royal family, it’s always been quite simple with one photograph.”
Harrold emphasized the differences in Harry and Meghan’s approach this year, saying, “[This] isn’t the correct thing to do. It’s not very Royal,” as their card features a montage rather than a single photograph.
In contrast, Harry’s brother and sister-in-law, Prince William and Kate Middleton, typically wait until Christmas Day to release their “royal Christmas portraits,” which have traditionally been a single image, often featuring their children, George, Charlotte, and Louis. This has been the pattern followed by the couple in the past as well.
In 2020, Meghan and Harry shared a Christmas photo with their son Archie, showing him standing with them in front of a playhouse decorated with holiday wreaths. The following year, a picture was released featuring one of the couple holding baby Lilibet up in the air.
However, in 2022 and 2023, the couple chose not to include their children in the holiday cards, instead opting for a photo of just Meghan and Harry.
Grant believes there is a reason behind the Sussexes’ decision to break away from tradition this year, not only by including their kids once again, but by presenting the photo as a montage.
“The impression I’m getting is that they want to show all the things they have achieved and done together this year,” he said.
While Grant thinks it’s a nice idea, he noted that it might be more sensible to have picked just one photo to avoid stirring controversy. Nevertheless, he believes that by stepping away from tradition, the couple is sending a significant message.
“From my point of view, they want to convey what they’ve done together in 2024,” he added.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before, and I’ve seen Royal Christmas cards countless times. They’ve definitely gone beyond the usual here for some reason.
“Their message seems to be saying, ‘Look how busy we are,’ and highlighting everything they’ve accomplished.”
When comparing the Sussexes’ choice to that of the Waleses, he added that the intended message might have been somewhat diluted.
“The thing is, we know they’re busy, we know they have a lot going on, and they’ve achieved a lot this year,” Grant went on.
“Kate or the King would never go around saying, ‘Look how much I’m doing’ every year. They don’t need to. That’s how I see it.
“I now view Meghan and Harry as a celebrity Royal couple. It’s not a negative thing, but that’s how I see them now, and probably how others do as well. They’re Royal, but they’ve reached more of a