Meghan Markle Recalls Her 'Amazing' First Christmas With the Royals — and Shares Who She Sat Beside!

Mar. 15, 2025

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Christmas 2017.Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Meghan Marklehas happy memories of her first Christmas with the royal family.

In the Netflix docuseriesHarry & Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex recalled the first time she spent the holidays withPrince Harry’s family atSandringham in 2017, ahead of their royal wedding.

“I remember so vividly the first Christmas at Sandringham,” Meghan, 41, said. “Calling my mom, and she’s like, ‘How’s it going?’ And I said, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s amazing.’ "

“It’s just like a big family like I always wanted,” she added. “And there was just this constant movement and energy and fun.”

Kate Middleton, Prince William, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Christmas 2017.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

At dinner, Meghan sat next to “H’s grandfather,“Prince Philip— and thought their conversation went well.

“And I just thought it was so wonderful. And I was like, ‘Oh, we chatted, and it was so great. And I talked about this and talked about this,’ " she recalled — although she said thatPrince Harrylater informed her that she “had his bad ear,” meaningPrince Philiplikely couldn’t hear their entire chat.

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Meghan said, “I was like, ‘Oh — well, I thought it went really well.’ "

Meghan’s appearance was a departure from typical protocol, asunmarried partners of royals had previously not been invited to Sandringhamfor the big day. (AsPrince William’s fiancée back in 2010,Kate Middletondid not attend Christmas services with him.)

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Christmas 2017.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

In 2019, the couple decided to spend their first holiday season as a family of threeprivately in Canada.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on Christmas Day 2018.Stephen Pond/Getty Images

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In January 2020, Meghan andPrince Harryannounced their intention to step back as working members of the royal family. They relocated to Meghan’s home state of California later that year, staying in Tyler Perry’s Los Angeles home before buying a home in Montecito.

Meghan andPrince Harryspent theirfirst Christmas as a family of fourlast year, having welcomed daughter Lilibet Diana in June.

“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 — from those being relocated from Afghanistan, to American families in need of paid parental leave,” they said in their holiday card.

source: people.com