Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2022 Holiday Card: A Deeper Look at Their Evolving Public Image

The festive season often brings with it cherished traditions, and for public figures, the annual holiday card serves as a unique opportunity to connect with well-wishers and offer a glimpse into their lives. In December 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, continued this tradition by releasing their eagerly anticipated annual holiday card. This year’s greeting held particular significance, arriving just one day after the second installment of their groundbreaking Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, captivated global audiences.

Opting for a sophisticated and impactful aesthetic, the couple chose a striking black and white photograph for their virtual card. The image captured them in a moment of poised elegance during their appearance at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights awards earlier that month in New York City. This selection was a deliberate departure from the more casual, family-focused images of previous years, subtly communicating their evolving roles as prominent humanitarians and media producers. The card, circulated digitally, was emblazoned with the warm and inclusive message: “Wishing you a joyful holiday season.”

The full message conveyed within the virtual card extended beyond a simple holiday wish, offering a comprehensive look at the couple’s current focus and aspirations. Below the initial greeting, the Duke and Duchess added, “From our family to yours, and on behalf of our teams at Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio, and Archewell Productions, we wish you health, peace and a Happy New Year. Best wishes, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.” This carefully crafted statement highlighted not only their personal well-wishes but also their dedicated work through their various Archewell entities, underscoring their commitment to creating a positive impact on the world.

The Evolving Narrative: Absence of Archie and Lilibet

One of the most notable aspects of the 2022 holiday card was the decision by Prince Harry and Meghan not to feature their two young children, son Archie Harrison, 3, and daughter Lilibet Diana, 1. This choice marked a significant shift from their previous holiday greetings. For many public figures, Christmas cards often serve as a platform to share family milestones and heartwarming images of their children. The Duke and Duchess, who married in 2018, have always balanced public appearances with a strong desire to protect their children’s privacy, especially since relocating to California.

The contrast with their 2021 holiday card was particularly striking. Last year, the annual greeting served as the highly anticipated debut of their baby girl, Lilibet, who was born in June 2021. That memorable card featured a charming family portrait, showing Harry holding Archie and Meghan cradling Lilibet, all beaming with joy. The accompanying message read, “This year, 2021, we welcomed our daughter, Lilibet, to the world. Archie made us a ‘Mama’ and a ‘Papa,’ and Lili made us a family. As we look forward to 2022, we have made donations on your behalf to several organizations that honor and protect families.” This past decision to introduce Lilibet through their holiday card highlighted its importance as a personal and public announcement platform.

This year’s choice to exclude the children likely reflects a deeper commitment to their privacy as they grow. While last year’s card was a joyful introduction, this year’s focus on Harry and Meghan as a couple in their professional capacity, particularly following the revelations in their Netflix documentary, suggests a desire to emphasize their joint advocacy and media work. It allows the card to serve as a reflection of their current public identity rather than solely a family update, a testament to their evolving roles post-royal life.

Contextualizing the Release: The Harry & Meghan Netflix Docuseries

The timing of the holiday card’s release was no coincidence, arriving a mere day after the second volume of their highly anticipated Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, became available for streaming. This docuseries provided an unprecedented, intimate look into their lives, offering their perspective on everything from the early days of their romance and how they first met (with a playful nod to Instagram) to the intense scrutiny and family dynamics that ultimately led to their departure from senior royal duties.

Throughout the documentary, the couple shared deeply personal insights, including never-before-seen wedding photos and footage of their first dance, allowing viewers into moments previously kept private. They candidly discussed sensitive topics such as the family shouting matches during their Sandringham exit negotiations and the immense pressures they faced from the media and within the royal institution. By releasing their holiday card almost immediately after these revelations, Harry and Meghan effectively created a continuum, connecting their deeply personal narrative with a broader message of hope and goodwill. It signaled a period of candid storytelling, seemingly tying up any “loose ends” that might have remained after their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021. The card, therefore, acted as a concluding note to a year of profound personal and public sharing.

Archewell’s Stamp: A Foundation for Impact

The inclusion of “on behalf of our teams at Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio, and Archewell Productions” in their holiday message was a clear and concise declaration of their ongoing commitment to their post-royal endeavors. Archewell, named after their son Archie (meaning “source of action”), serves as the umbrella for their philanthropic and creative ventures.

The Archewell Foundation is their primary vehicle for charitable work, focusing on diverse areas such as gender equality, environmental conservation, and mental health awareness. Through the foundation, Harry and Meghan aim to foster compassion and build communities, aligning their efforts with global challenges. Archewell Audio is their podcast production company, responsible for compelling storytelling through audio, while Archewell Productions focuses on creating impactful visual content, including the aforementioned Netflix docuseries. By explicitly mentioning these entities in their holiday card, the Duke and Duchess underscored that their holiday greetings are not just personal well-wishes but also reflections of their professional mission to create positive change and share meaningful narratives with the world. This strategic inclusion positioned their greeting as a message from a working couple dedicated to their global humanitarian and media objectives.

Prince Harry’s Heartfelt Philanthropy: The Spider-Man Surprise

Beyond the formal holiday card, Prince Harry continued to demonstrate his unique approach to philanthropy and his deep-seated commitment to supporting vulnerable communities, particularly children. Just weeks before the holiday card’s release, he brought immense joy and cheer to children who had lost parents serving in the British Armed Forces. In a heartwarming video message for the Scotty’s Little Soldiers charity, posted to YouTube on December 3, Harry donned a full Spider-Man costume, embracing the spirit of heroism and lightheartedness.

His message resonated deeply with the children, acknowledging the particular poignancy of the holiday season for those who have experienced loss. “Christmas is a time when we miss our loved ones really, really badly. And that’s okay,” he said, offering comfort and validating their feelings. This act of dressing as the beloved Marvel webslinger was part of the holiday party’s theme, where the children were playfully tasked with stopping “villains” attempting to ruin their festive gathering. Harry, in character, enthusiastically instructed the kids: “Use your teamwork, your brains, and your brawn and you do exactly that. Find them, and don’t let them ruin Christmas.” This initiative perfectly encapsulated his personal touch and genuine empathy, extending compassion to families who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people who have lost a parent serving in the British Armed Forces. Prince Harry, a veteran himself with a distinguished military career, has a strong personal connection to the armed forces community and a profound understanding of the challenges faced by military families. His involvement with the charity highlights his unwavering commitment to honoring the fallen and providing crucial support to their surviving children, ensuring they feel remembered and cared for during difficult times. This playful yet profoundly meaningful gesture reinforced his image as a compassionate advocate and a hands-on supporter of causes close to his heart.

The Broader Message of the Sussexes’ 2022 Holiday Card

The 2022 holiday card from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was far more than a simple seasonal greeting; it was a carefully curated statement reflecting their journey, their values, and their vision for the future. From the sophisticated black and white photograph highlighting their commitment to humanitarian work to the comprehensive message encompassing their Archewell endeavors, every element was designed to convey their current standing. The absence of Archie and Lilibet, while perhaps surprising to some, underscored their evolving approach to privacy and their focus on their professional partnership.

Coming on the heels of their candid Netflix docuseries, the card acted as a reaffirmation of their chosen path—one that blends personal storytelling with a clear dedication to global impact. It reinforced their image as a couple actively shaping their narrative, championing causes they believe in, and embracing a life of purpose outside the traditional confines of royal duty. Coupled with Prince Harry’s heartwarming Spider-Man appearance for charity, the card painted a vivid picture of a couple deeply engaged with both their public responsibilities and their personal mission to spread peace, joy, and positive change in the world, one virtual greeting and one heroic act at a time. This combination of official communication and heartfelt gestures continues to define the unique public presence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.