Earlier this week, a number of royal analysts likened Harry and Meghan’s contentious holiday release to cards that the Wales’
Fans of the royal couple were curious about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s responses to the online commotion sparked by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2024 Christmas card earlier this week.
Less than two days following the release of the Sussex’s joyous remembrance, the Wales family has finally spoken out today.
If you haven’t been following the newest drama in the monarchy, don’t worry. For your information, we are here.
Sending out a ‘formal’ Christmas card via email to all subscribers and followers of their joint charity, the Archewell Foundation, was Harry and Meghan’s custom on Wednesday.
After all, the couple has been sending out yearly seasonal greetings since getting married in 2018, and their cards frequently feature a memorable photo from the previous year, so the move itself wasn’t that shocking.
Together with their son Archie, they posted their first Christmas card picture in 2020. The child was pictured with his parents outside a playhouse decorated with holiday wreaths.
A year later, one of the couple was published with their daughter, Lilibet, who was still a baby at the time, in the air.
Due to security concerns, the pair decided not to put their kids in the Christmas card for the next two years, with the 2022 and 2023 cards only including a picture of Meghan and Harry.
But this year, the Sussexes decided to take a slightly different approach, delivering their 2024 card as a collage using pictures from their year together.
One of the photos featured the couple and their kids, who were seen running up to their parents from behind. Other photos were shot during their humanitarian efforts abroad, including several during their August trip to Colombia.
As part of the Christmas gesture, the following statement was included: “On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we wish you a very happy holiday season, and a joyful new year.”
The card’s arrangement, however, generated quite a stir online, with one royal expert even accusing the pair of sensationally violating royal tradition.
As the official butler to Harry’s father, King Charles III, Grant Harrold used to work in Buckingham Palace. He told Tyla yesterday on behalf of Slingo that a conventional royal Christmas card that we’ve seen from the King or the Princess of Wales is typically just a photograph.
“I’ve only needed one picture ever since I started working with the Royal family. This year, Harry and Meghan’s card is significantly different. More like to a montage.
William and Kate often hold off on releasing their “royal Christmas portraits” until the 25th. One picture of each of their three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, is included in each one.
“[This] isn’t the correct thing to do,” Grant continued, drawing his audience’s attention to Harry and Meghan’s card. Not very royal.
Supporters of the debate have questioned William and Kate’s position in light of the obvious similarity to the Wales family.
The future monarchs, who the tabloid media alleges have been “at war” with the Sussexes since they resigned from their royal positions and left the UK in 2020, also spoke out about the issue today.
Following royal protocol, however, the couple decided not to discuss the card confusion openly. In fact, it appears that they have completely ignored it, posting an irrelevant photo on Twitter (or X).
Earlier this month, Kate organized an annual carol concert in Westminster Abbey, and the official account of Kensington Palace, the royal house of Wales, posted a video of soul musician Gregory Porter performing.
The original video was posted by the artist with the remark, “Performance at the Princess of Wales’ 2024 Together at Christmas carol service was an honor.” That night was really unique. I appreciate being featured on @KensingtonRoyal, and the couple retweeted it.
The same video was posted by William and Kate on their official Instagram account as well.
We question whether they will ever truly express their feelings about the Christmas card that causes so much havoc.
