It's the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, Christmas is right around the corner, but it's also Royal Family Christmas Card Season. Following last year's GIF-style greeting—which was also Baby
Archie's Christmas card debut—Meghan Markle and Prince Harry returned this year with their annual festive photo, and it's unlike anything you expected.
In lieu of an actual photograph, the duke and duchess commissioned a drawing of the family instead. The photo on which the illustration is based was taken by Meghan's mother, Doria, and shows the family posing in front of a child-size barn in a yard, with Baby Archie sitting on his father Prince Harry's lap. The couple's two dogs also make an appearance.
Switching things up a bit this year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex passed on the honor of sharing the Christmas card to Mayhew, an organization Meghan has been working with since 2019. It rescues dogs, cats, and other animals and helps them find a safe home.
"We’re thrilled to receive wonderful Christmas wishes from our Patron, The Duchess of Sussex. ? The Duke and Duchess have also made a personal donation, helping us continue to be there for the dogs, cats, and people in our community this winter and beyond. From all of us at Mayhew, two and four-legged, thank you and Merry Christmas," the organization captioned the Christmas card on Instagram.
Last year, the duke and duchess departed from the traditional royals-style Christmas photo and went for a more relaxed, cozy setup, opting to send electronic cards to be more environmentally conscious. The photo showed Meghan and Harry laughing as they watched newborn Archie crawl towards the camera. The image was taken by Janina Gavankar—actress, photographer, and friend of Meghan.
Last month, ELLE.com reported that the duke and duchess were expected to spend Christmas with Meghan's mother Doria in California. The couple hasn't announced any official holiday plans yet. but it is "anticipated they will be at their Montecito home in California and not be in the U.K. for Christmas," a source close to the couple told ELLE.