Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have carried on the tradition of releasing a family Christmas card and this year’s shows the couple full of smiles with their children

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have sent festive greetings with their 2024 Christmas card where they are pictured full of smiles with their kids.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex unveiled the card, featuring a new photo of their kids, Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3. The shot — one of six in the multi-photo greeting — captures the children from behind as they excitedly run toward their parents.

The card shows Meghan smiling towards Archie and Harry greeting Lili, confirming his recent comments about her long hair — red, just like her older brother’s.

“On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation,” the card’s message stated.

The montage featured five other shots of Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, during their trips to Nigeria and Colombia this year. “We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year,” it added.

For royal fans it is a rare opportunity to see the Sussexes’ children, who were last pictured when they were seen in the couple’s docuseries Harry & Meghan, which was released on Netflix in December 2022.

Despite quitting as working royals almost five years ago, the Sussexes have continued the tradition of sharing the picture used on their Christmas card like other members of the Firm. Last year’s card featured a snap of the couple beaming at the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf with Harry looking smart in a black shirt and jacket combination and Meghan wearing an elegant dark green strapless gown.

The seasonal card is always eagerly anticipated but they have not always opted to show their children on the design. Earlier this year a friend of the Sussexes told People how Harry wanted to protect his children by keeping them out of the limelight. They said: “Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats.

“He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.” The friend added: “Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself,” referring to the death of Princess Diana.

In 2022, the couple decided to keep it simple and just feature themselves on their Christmas card, with Meghan looking stunning stunning in a white off-the-shoulder dress and slicked-back ponytail. The black and white image also showed Harry holding her hand while wearing a classic suit and tie.

It was shared on a red background and read: “From our family to yours, and on behalf of our team at The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio, and Archewell Productions, we wish you health, peace, and a very happy new year!”

The 2021 version of their card saw a baby Lilibet make her debut as the family opted for a casual look. In the image, Meghan, Harry, and Archie all wore denim and Meghan held little Lilibet up high as they family sat on the porch of a rustic house. They were all captured smiling at the newest addition to their family.

A year earlier, Meghan and Harry decided to ditch the usual snowy backdrop for festive cards and chose a brighter scene from their home in Montecito. The duo were joined by little Archie and the family’s two dogs, Guy and Pula, as the happy family smiled from a festively decorated garden shed.