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Dazzling photos show royal castles and palaces decorated for Christmas

19 December 2024 at 04:50
Royal staff members decorated a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle.
Royal staff members decorated a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

  • UK royal staff decorated residences like Windsor Castle for the holidays.
  • The British royals have a slew of famous properties, from Windsor to Holyroodhouse to Buckingham Palace.
  • Buckingham Palace is being renovated — and we've not seen any photos so far of it being decked out.

The British royal family is getting in the holiday spirit.

It's a festive tradition for staff from the Royal Collection Trust to decorate the family's residences around the UK.

This year, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh were the first residences to be decked out with Christmas trees and garlands.

Take a look at all the festive touches.

In Windsor Castle, a 20-foot Christmas tree was erected in St George's Hall.
Windsor Castle's St George's Hall has been decorated with a 20-foot Christmas tree.
Windsor Castle's St George's Hall has been decorated with a 20-foot Christmas tree.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The tree was sourced from the nearby Windsor Great Park and will be replanted after the Christmas display closes.

For the first time, Queen Mary's Dolls' House is decorated.
Queen Mary's Dolls' House in Windsor Castle.
Queen Mary's Dolls' House was adorned with holiday decorations for the first time.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The Queen Mary's Dolls' House in Windsor Castle was designed between 1921 and 1924 as a "gift to the nation" from Queen Mary following World War I.

The doll house — often called the largest and most famous in the world — replicates an aristocratic Edwardian home and has electricity, working elevators, and running water.

This close-up image shows a mini 1920s Christmas tree.
A close-up image of the Christmas decorations in Queen Mary's Doll's House
A close-up image of the Christmas decorations in Queen Mary's Doll's House.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

To commemorate its 100th anniversary, the doll house has been decorated for Christmas for the first time with a miniature 1920s-style Christmas tree and garlands.

Meanwhile, festive garlands were on the castle's grand staircase.
A staff member decorates Windsor Castle with festive garlands.
A staff member decorates Windsor Castle with festive garlands.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The staircase leads to the State Apartments, which are open for the public to visit.

A 15-foot-high Christmas tree stands in the castle's crimson drawing room.
A close-up image shows a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle's Crimson Drawing Room, with two sofa chairs and a sparkling chandelier.
A close-up image shows a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle's Crimson Drawing Room.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

A Nordmann Fir Christmas tree was erected in the crimson drawing room, which the royal family uses for official entertaining.

Photos of the decorations at Buckingham Palace have not been released.
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla listen as members of the Military Wives Choirs perform a Christmas song at Buckingham Palace.
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla listen as members of the Military Wives Choirs perform a Christmas song at Buckingham Palace.

Yui Mok/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Buckingham Palace is decorated — but there aren't any pictures available.

A palace spokesperson told Business Insider that imagery of the interior decoration hasn't been released since the palace is closed to the public.

They said there were Christmas trees, garlands, and other festive flowers in the palace, the official London residence of the royals.

The photo above shows an event on December 11 at the palace, without any obvious decoration.

The palace is undergoing a £369 million ($466 million) refurbishment, which will see the royal household closed to state visits until 2027.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh was also decorated with trees and garlands.
A Christmas tree surrounded by paintings in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh is decorated with a Christmas tree.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

A 15-foot-high tree was erected in the Great Gallery, the largest room in the palace.

Here's a close-up shot of staff decorating the tree with baubles.
Staff members decorated the Christmas tree in the Palace of Holyroodhouse's Great Gallery.
Staff members decorated the Christmas tree in the Great Gallery.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The room is adorned with portraits of legendary kings of Scotland.

Two 12-foot-high Christmas trees stand in the palace's Throne Room.
Two 12-foot-high Christmas trees and a mantle garland decorate the Throne Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Two Christmas trees and a mantle garland decorate the palace's Throne Room.

A staff member decorates a Christmas tree in the royal family's Scottish residence.

The Throne Room is used for receptions, state banquets, and other formal events.

Here's a closer look at one of the trees.
A staff member decorates a Christmas tree in the royal family's Scottish residence.
A staff member decorates a Christmas tree in the royal family's Scottish residence.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

The tree was decorated predominantly with red baubles and ribbons.

In the palace's dining room, giant festive garlands are displayed.
Two royal staff members add festive decor in the royal dining room.
Two royal staff members add festive decor in the royal dining room.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

Staff members can be seen adding the finishing touches to the display.

The table was set with sugared fruits and foliage.
A staff member decorates a table for Christmas at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.
A staff member decorates a table for Christmas at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/Royal Collection Trust

Clarence House has also been decorated for the holidays.
Queen Camilla speaks to a person dressed as Santa Claus at Clarence House.
Queen Camilla speaks to a person dressed as Santa Claus at Clarence House.

Mina Kim AFP

The London residence, which remains the primary residence of King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, also got a festive makeover in the run up to Christmas.

The property was decorated to resemble a Christmas grotto ahead of an annual festive tradition.
Queen Camilla and a child place a decoration on a Christmas tree during an event at Clarence House.
Queen Camilla and a child place a decoration on a Christmas tree during an event at Clarence House.

Mina Kim/ AFP via Getty Images

The Queen welcomed children to Clarence House to help decorate the Christmas tree in the household's library.

Highgrove, the King's former family residence, was decorated with towering nutcrackers.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens dress huge nutcrackers on the terrace.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens dress huge nutcrackers on the terrace.

Ben Birchall/PA via Getty Images

Highgrove is in the English countryside some 85 miles west of London.

The two nutcrackers, which stand at over 10 feet tall, have been placed outside the Orchard Room, the estate's dedicated entertaining space.

Inside, a Christmas tree has been placed on a table.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens dress a Christmas tree in the Ante Room.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens dress a Christmas tree in the Ante Room.

Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

The tree is in the Ante Room and will be visible to the public who visit Highgrove's gardens during the festive period.

Garlands of dried fruit have been displayed on the windows.
Garlands of dried fruit have been hung on the windows at Highgrove.
Garlands of dried fruit have been hung on the windows at Highgrove.

Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

Staff members can be seen decorating the tree beyond the windows.

The table in the garden room was decorated with tall candelabras and seasonal colors.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens prepare place settings in the Garden Room.
Staff at Highgrove Gardens prepare place settings in the Garden Room

Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

Staff at Highgrove Gardens can be seen preparing place settings in the garden room.

If we see more royal Christmassy photos, we'll add them.
windsor castle christmas tree
Crown decorations on the 2018 Windsor Castle Christmas tree.

AP

Read the original article on Business Insider

A complete timeline of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship

5 December 2024 at 12:56
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in December, 2017.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in December 2017.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

  • Prince Harry and Markle Markle were set up on a blind date in July 2016.
  • They dated for over a year before announcing their engagement to the public.
  • The couple now share two children and live in California after leaving their royal duties.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met on a blind date before eventually marrying in a lavish royal wedding ceremony.

Throughout their six years of marriage, the couple has faced scrutiny from the public over their decision to step away from the royal family and their roles as working royals in order to pursue what they called "financial independence," as well as their strained relationship with Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton. 

Harry recently addressed speculation that his marriage to Meghan was on the rocks.

"Apparently we've bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We've apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well," he joked with New York Times columnist and DealBook founder Andrew Ross Sorkin during a panel at The New York Times' 2024 DealBook Summit on Wednesday, People reported. "So it's just like, 'what?'"

Here's a complete timeline of their royal relationship.

July 2016: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set up on a blind date, and during the early days of their relationship, things go from "0 to 60."
Meghan Markle Harry
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

Getty/Dan Kitwood

A mutual friend set them up on a blind date at Soho House's Dean Street Townhouse.

In their first sit-down interview as a couple, Meghan told the BBC in 2017 that she knew little about the prince or the royal family before the date.

"Because I'm from the States, you don't grow up with the same understanding of the royal family," she said. "I didn't know much about him, so the only thing that I had asked [our mutual friend] when she said that she wanted to set us up, was, 'Well, is he nice?' Cause if he wasn't kind, it just didn't seem like it would make sense."

In an interview with James Corden on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" in February 2021, Prince Harry recalled how serious the pair got within their first two months of dating. 

"The second date I was starting to think: This is pretty special," Prince Harry told the host.

"Dating with me, or with any member of the royal family I guess, is kind of flipped upside down," he said. "All the dates become dinners or watching the TV or chatting at home. And then eventually, once you become a couple you venture out to dinners, to the cinema, and everything else. So, everything was done back to front with us."

"There were no distractions, and that was great, that was an amazing thing. We went from 0 to 60 like in the first two months," the royal added.

October 2016: It is first reported that the two are dating.
prince harry
Prince Harry in 2016.

Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

The Sunday Express reported that the country's single prince was dating American actor, philanthropist, and blogger Meghan Markle. A source told the publication that he was "happier than he's been for many years." 

November 2016: Meghan calls herself the "luckiest girl in the world."
meghan markle 2016
Meghan Markle leaves the "Today" show taping at NBC Rockefeller Center Studios in July 2016.

Ray Tamarra/GC Images/Getty Images

While they still had not publicly announced they were dating, Meghan made headlines when she told The Vancouver Sun in a Q&A that "my cup runneth over, and I'm the luckiest girl in the world!"

November 2016: Prince Harry secretly visits Meghan in Toronto while she's filming "Suits."
meghan markle
Meghan Markle at a "Suits" premiere in 2016.

Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

While The Star reported that the pair attended a Halloween party in the city, Us Weekly reported that Meghan and Harry stayed put in her apartment all weekend.

November 2016: Meghan reportedly meets Harry's father for the first time.
prince charles prince harry
Prince Charles, now King Charles, and Prince Harry in 2016.

Arthur Edwards/Pool/Getty Images

People reported that Meghan met Harry's dad, Prince Charles — now King Charles — and that an "engagement was a possibility."

November 2016: Kensington Palace releases a statement confirming Harry and Meghan's relationship while calling out the "wave of abuse and harassment" directed at her.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry.

Max Mumby/Indigo / Getty Images

Harry released a statement confirming that he was dating Meghan but slammed the press coverage surrounding her and their relationship. He said that much of the coverage had been sexist and racist, as Meghan is a biracial woman.

The statement said, in part, "Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is 'the price she has to pay' and that 'this is all part of the game'. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game — it is her life and his."

November 2016: Responding to reports he was not happy with Harry's decision to speak out, Prince William issues a statement giving the couple his support.
royal family prince harry william
Prince Harry, Kate Middleton, and Prince William in 2016.

Steve Parsons/Pool/Getty Images

After reports that Prince William was not happy with Harry's decision to go public about his relationship with Meghan, William disputed the claims and said he was supportive of Harry's decision to speak out about Meghan and the abuse she was receiving in the press. 

"The Duke of Cambridge absolutely understands the situation concerning privacy and supports the need for Prince Harry to support those closest to him," the statement read. 

December 2016: The two are seen enjoying a Christmas date in London.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Jonathan Brady/PA Images/Getty Images

The Sun shared photos of Meghan and Harry ringing in some holiday cheer by picking out a Christmas tree and seeing the Christmas lights in London. Later, they attended the play "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime."

January 2017: Meghan meets Kate Middleton and her daughter, Princess Charlotte.
kate middleton princess charlotte
Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte in 2016.

Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

Prince Harry introduced his girlfriend to his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, and her daughter at the beginning of 2017. Meghan apparently "adored" Charlotte.

Prince George was away at nursery school, so she missed meeting him, The Sun reported. 

January 2017: Harry and Meghan visit the small Norwegian town of Tromvik on their first vacation together.
Svalbard Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights
The Northern Lights.

Shutterstock

Norwegian media reports at the time said they stayed at the luxurious Tromvik Lodge, which gives panoramic views of the Norwegian Sea and the northern lights.

A friend reportedly told The Sun, "Harry wanted to make this first holiday something Meg will never forget."

April 2017: Meghan shuts down her lifestyle blog.
Meghan Markle suits
Meghan Markle on "Suits" in 2017.

Ian Watson/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

Meghan announced that she was shutting down her lifestyle blog, "The Tig." Her post was sweet yet vague, so many assumed this meant she and Harry would be getting engaged. But People reported that she was just too busy to keep it up. 

May 2017: The couple kisses publicly for the first time after Harry competed in a polo match.
prince harry polo
Prince Harry took part in the Audi Polo Challenge in 2017.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Us Weekly reported the pair were spotted kissing in the parking lot after the annual Audi Polo Challenge in Ascot, England. Harry was participating while Meghan cheered from the sidelines. 

May 2017: Markle is Harry's date at Pippa Middleton's wedding reception.
prince william prince harry
Prince William and Prince Harry arrived for the wedding of Pippa Middleton.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/Getty Images

Harry took a three-hour, 100-mile round trip to pick up Meghan and bring her to Pippa Middleton's wedding reception.

Meghan did not attend the ceremony because Pippa had a "no ring, no bring" policy, but the break between the ceremony and the reception allowed Harry to pick her up and bring her later for the "less formal" reception. 

September 2017: Meghan confirms the relationship in an interview with Vanity Fair and says they're "in love."
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in September 2017.

Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images

"We're a couple," Meghan said in the October issue of Vanity Fair. "We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us. It's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours. But we're happy."

She added that they had been "very quietly dating" for six months before reports of the relationship emerged.

September 2017: The couple is finally seen out in public together, and they appear very much in love.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry during the Invictus Games in Toronto.

REUTERS/Mark Blinch

After more than a year of dating, Meghan and Harry attended a tennis event during the Invictus Games in Toronto. They were seen holding hands, whispering to each other, and smiling. 

November 2017: Prince Harry proposes to Meghan at their home while she is cooking a roast chicken.
meghan markle engagement ring
Meghan Markle's engagement ring.

Getty Images

The couple said the proposal happened quite spontaneously. 

"It happened a few weeks ago, earlier this month, here at our cottage; just a standard typical night for us," Prince Harry later told the BBC.

Meghan added, "[We were] trying to roast a chicken and it just — just an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee."

Harry continued, "She didn't even let me finish; she said, 'Can I say yes, can I say yes?' and then were hugs. I had the ring on my finger, and I was like, 'Can I — can I give you the ring?' She goes — 'Oh, yes the ring.'"

November 27, 2017: They announce their engagement to the public.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after announcing their engagement.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The world was delighted when the couple announced their engagement on November 27. 

The news came via a statement from Kensington Palace and Clarence House, and the couple posed for celebratory photos.

The statement also announced they would be getting married on May 19, 2018.

December 2017: The pair makes their first royal appearance as a couple.
meghan markle prince harry
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in December 2017.

Jeremy Selwyn/WPA Pool/Getty Images

For their first official public engagement, the pair greeted onlookers in Nottingham, England.

December 2017: A few weeks later, Meghan breaks royal precedent by celebrating Christmas with Harry's family, even though they are not yet married.
meghan markle royal family christmas
The royal family and Meghan Markle in December 2017.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Royal fiancés are not typically included in official royal Christmas activities, but Queen Elizabeth invited Meghan to join the family at her Sandringham estate.

"It was fantastic. She really enjoyed it," Harry told BBC Radio 4 in an interview a few days later. "The family loved having her there."

It was also the first time that Meghan was photographed with Prince William and Kate, now the Prince and Princess of Wales.

March 2018: In the months leading up to their May wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan appear at a number of public engagements.
prince harry meghan markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in March 2018.

Chris Jackson/Pool/Getty Images

They traveled all over the United Kingdom and even made a surprise appearance in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in March.

May 19, 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan tie the knot at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, but Meghan later says they actually said their vows three days before.
meghan markle wedding flowers princess diana
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share a kiss at the royal wedding.

WPA Pool/Getty

Celebrities, including Oprah, Serena Williams, and Elton John, were invited to the celebrations, while thousands of well-wishers lined the streets to wave at the couple, who arrived at the reception via a horse-drawn carriage.

Meghan's wedding dress was designed by Givenchy, one of her favorite designers. Her veil featured a motif of different embroidered flowers, including the California state flower. Her bouquet contained forget-me-nots, which were Princess Diana's favorite flower.

In a March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said she and Harry had actually said their vows to each other three days before the wedding at Windsor Castle.

"No one knows that, but we called the archbishop and we just said, 'This thing, this spectacle is for the world, but we want our union between us.' So the vows that we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard with the Archbishop of Canterbury," she said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury later confirmed the couple wasn't legally married until their ceremony at Windsor Castle.

October 2018: The royals announce Meghan is pregnant with their first child.
prince harry meghan markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in October 2018.

Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

Rather than live in Apartment 1 at Kensington Palace, the couple decided to move slightly further afield from the royal family and settled at Frogmore House.

The couple spent millions of dollars in taxpayer funds renovating the home for their growing family, which they eventually paid back in full by making a contribution to the Sovereign Grant.

October 2018: The couple tours Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand for 16 days.
meghan markle hongi new zealand
Meghan performed the Hongi with the governor-general of New Zealand.

Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

During the jam-packed tour, Meghan performed a traditional greeting, the Hongi, with the governor-general of New Zealand, pictured.

The couple also cuddled with koalas in Sydney, met with youth mental health organizations, took part in traditional ceremonies, met foreign leaders, and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington, New Zealand. 

December 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan celebrate Christmas with the royals, dispelling rumors that there is a rift in the family.
prince william kate middleton meghan markle prince harry christmas
Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry attend Christmas church services in 2018.

Joe Giddens/PA Images/Getty Images

The couple's appearance at Christmas services temporarily halted rumors that they were on the outs with the royal family, namely Prince William and Kate Middleton.

January 2019: Unbeknownst to the public, Meghan is struggling with her mental health.
meghan markle prince harry
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the Cirque du Soleil Premiere Of "TOTEM" at Royal Albert Hall on January 16, 2019.

Paul Grover/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Though they looked the picture of happiness from the outside looking in, Meghan would later reveal in her tell-all interview with Oprah in March 2021 that just before attending this event at Royal Albert Hall on January 16, 2019, she had expressed concern to Prince Harry over her mental health and not "[wanting] to be alive anymore."

"We had to go to an official event. We had to go to this event at the Royal Albert Hall, and a friend said, 'I know you don't look at pictures, but, oh, my God, you guys look so great...'" she said. "I zoomed in, and what I saw was the truth of what that moment was, because right before we had to leave for that, I had just had that conversation with Harry that morning, and it was the next day that I talked to the institution."

"It was like, 'These are the thoughts that I'm having in the middle of the night that are very clear ... And I'm scared, because this is very real. This isn't some abstract idea. This is methodical, and this is not who I am.' But we had to go to this event, and I remember him saying, 'I don't think you can go.' And I said, 'I can't be left alone,'" she said. 

"And that picture, if you zoom in, what I see is how tightly his knuckles are gripped around mine. You can see the whites of our knuckles, because we are smiling and doing our job, but we're both just trying to hold on. And every time that those lights went down in that royal box, I was just weeping, and he was gripping my hand."

May 2019: Prince Harry and Meghan's son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, is born.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Archie
Prince Harry and Meghan with their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in 2019.

Toby Melville/Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan and Prince Harry broke from royal tradition by skipping the post-birth photo call on the hospital steps. But outside Windsor Castle, Harry gushed to the media about his newborn son and how proud he was of his wife.

"It's been the most amazing experience I could ever have possibly imagined," he told the media. "How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension. But we're both absolutely thrilled and so grateful [for] all the love and support from everybody out there. It's been amazing."

They appeared for their photo call with Archie three days later. Archie also did not receive a royal title, and details about his christening or godparents were not released publicly.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted their son to be as normal as possible to begin with, hence no use of the title Earl of Dumbarton," royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said at the time.

However, Meghan told Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 that the decision not to give Archie a royal title was not their own and that he was also refused security upon his birth.

October 2019: Meghan and Harry announce they are suing Associated Newspapers after the Daily Mail published a private letter sent by Meghan to her father.
meghan markle prince harry sydney 2018
Meghan Meghan and Prince Harry.

Kristy Wigglesworth/Pool/Getty Images

"Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences — a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son," the prince wrote in a statement.

It added, "Though we have continued to put on a brave face—as so many of you can relate to — I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been."

September 2019: The royal couple tours Malawi, Angola, and South Africa.
meghan markle prince harry grace machel
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry meeting with Graca Machel in South Africa on October 2, 2019.

Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

While touring South Africa, the royal couple met with Nelson Mandela's widow, Graca Machel.

Archie accompanied the royal couple on the trip, which took them to Auwal Mosque, the oldest mosque in South Africa, and other famous sites. At the time, Archie was only 6 months old, which made him one of the youngest royals to ever go on a royal tour.

September 2019: Meghan and Prince Harry also spend a few days in Botswana, which holds special significance for the couple.
prince harry botswana
Prince Harry helps local schoolchildren plant trees at the Chobe Tree Reserve in Botswana on September 26, 2019.

Dominic Lipinski/Pool /Getty Images

"It was three, maybe four weeks later that I managed to persuade her to come join me in Botswana, and we camped out with each other under the stars," Prince Harry said in the couple's engagement interview. "She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic."

Meghan's engagement ring features two diamonds from Princess Diana's collection and a center jewel from a conflict-free diamond supplier in Botswana.

October 2019: Multiple news outlets report that Harry and Meghan will take a six-week break from royal duties and spend the holidays in Canada with her mother.
prince harry meghan markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in October 2019.

Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

When the reports were published, a royal source told CNN that the couple was planning to split their time between the UK and Canada.

Though the royals themselves didn't confirm this report, Markle did speak about how the pressure of constantly being in the public eye was affecting her. 

"Not many people have asked if I'm OK, but it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes," she told ITV reporter Tom Bradby, CNN reported.

January 2020: The couple shares their decision to be "financially independent" and take a "step back" from the royal family.
meghan markle prince harry
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in January 2020.

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/WPA Pool/Getty Images

"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen," the statement read. "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.

"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity." 

In the couple's tell-all interview with Oprah, Prince Harry revealed that the primary reasons for their leaving their royal roles were a "lack of support and lack of understanding" from both the media and the royal family.

January 2020: Prince Harry speaks about the decision to step back from his royal duties, saying, "There really was no other option."
prince harry sentebale
Prince Harry makes a speech as Sentebale held an event on January 19, 2020.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

"It brings me great sadness that it has come to this," the duke said during a private dinner for his charity Sentebale. "I know I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option."

March 2020: Meghan and Prince Harry return to the UK for their final engagements as senior royals.
prince harry meghan markle rain
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in March 2020.

Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

In an iconic photo taken by photographer Samir Hussein, the pair wore coordinating blue outfits while looking happier than ever. The romantic snap, taken at the 2020 Endeavour Fund Awards in London on March 5, was quickly shared by fans across the internet.

"I've taken many photos I'm really proud of, but in terms of the huge interest in the subjects and the response I've had, this is probably the most iconic photo I've taken," Hussein said in a statement.

March 2020: They also attend the Commonwealth Day service alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton, but the mood is noticeably "frostier."
prince harry meghan william kate commonwealth service
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William, and Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Service.

Phil Harris/WPA Pool/Getty Images

It was the first and final official engagement the "Fab Four" — the nickname given to the two royal couples — participated in after Meghan and Harry announced they would be stepping back from their royal duties.

Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, told Business Insider that the interactions between the couples, or lack thereof, were visibly "frosty." The couples acted noticeably cold to one another, barely making eye contact or speaking to one another, despite being seated just one row apart.

April 2020: The royal couple cuts all ties with four British tabloids.
british newspapers
British tabloid newspapers The Sun, The Daily Mail, and others.

Robert Alexander/Getty Images

On April 20, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they would no longer engage with or respond to inquiries from journalists from the Sun, the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Express, explaining they no longer wished to "offer themselves up as currency for an economy of clickbait and distortion."

That same month, they also announced their plans to launch a non-profit, Archewell, named after their son.

July 2020: Harry and Meghan purchase their first home together in Santa Barbara, California.
santa barbara
Santa Barbara, California.

Jordan Siemens/Getty Images

Vogue reported that the pair settled in the private and exclusive neighborhood of Montecito. The publication also reported that, according to property records, the royal couple bought their 14,500-square-foot home for $14.65 million.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into their family home in July of this year," a spokesperson for the couple confirmed to Business Insider in August 2020.

"They have settled into the quiet privacy of their community since their arrival and hope that this will be respected for their neighbors, as well as for them as a family."

August 2020: Meghan and Harry plant flowers in honor of Princess Diana on the anniversary of her death.
meghan harry flowers
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry planting flowers at the Preschool Learning Center in Los Angeles.

Matt Sayles via The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Harry and Meghan planted forget-me-nots, which is widely known as Princess Diana's favorite flower, alongside children at the Preschool Learning Center in Los Angeles, which provides support to local low-income families.

Princess Diana died more than 23 years ago, on August 31, 1997, from injuries sustained after a car crash in Paris. Prince Harry has been vocal about the impact his mother's death had on him and receiving therapy to help process his grief.

September 2020: It's announced that Meghan and Prince Harry have founded their own production company and signed a deal with Netflix.
Netflix
Netflix.

Photo by Britta Pedersen/picture alliance via Getty Images

The New York Times reported that the couple plans to produce documentaries, docuseries, feature films, scripted television shows, and children's programming under their new business. 

"Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope," Harry and Meghan told the outlet. "As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us."

November 2020: Meghan pens an op-ed revealing she had a miscarriage in July.
prince harry meghan markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

AP/KGC-375/STAR MAX/IPx

In a New York Times essay titled "The Losses We Share," Meghan opened up about the "unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few" she had after having a miscarriage over the summer. 

"I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second," she wrote. "Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband's hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we'd heal."

December 2020: The couple shares a Christmas card from their new home in the US.
prince harry meghan markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Phil Noble/Pool/Getty Images

In the same month the couple sent out their family Christmas card — which was not shared publicly — they also won one of their first legal battles over paparazzi pics of their son, Archie.

"As explained in today's hearing, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have successfully settled a legal claim brought at the beginning of this year against the paparazzi agency Splash UK," a spokesperson for Schillings, the legal representation for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said in a statement to Town & Country.

February 14, 2021: Meghan wins her case against Associated Newspapers and thanks her husband for his support.
meghan markle
Meghan Markle.

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

"After two long years of pursuing litigation, I am grateful to the courts for holding Associated Newspapers and the Mail on Sunday to account for their illegal and dehumanizing practiced," she wrote in a statement.

"These tactics (and those of their sister publications MailOnline and the Daily Mail) are not new; in fact, they've been going on for far too long without consequence. For these outlets, it's a game. For me and so many others, it's real life, real relationships, and very real sadness. The damage they have done and continue to do runs deep," she continued.

In the statement, she thanked Harry and others for their support.

At the time, a newspaper spokesperson told Business Insider, "We are very surprised by today's summary judgment and disappointed at being denied the chance to have all the evidence heard and tested in open court at a full trial."

"We are carefully considering the judgment's contents and will decide in due course whether to lodge an appeal," the spokesperson added.

February 14, 2021: Meghan and Prince Harry announce they are expecting their second child.
meghan markle prince harry baby no. 2 pregnancy reveal
A new photo of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared by representatives for the couple.

Misan Harriman; Copyright owned by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex © 2021

The news that Meghan and Harry were expecting their second child was first reported by People and later confirmed in a statement to Business Insider

"We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child," a spokesperson for the couple said.

In Meghan and Harry's interview with Oprah, the couple revealed they were expecting a girl, due in the summer.

February 19, 2021: Buckingham Palace confirms Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer work on behalf of the royal family.
meghan and harry
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the Mountbatten Music Festival at Royal Albert Hall on March 7, 2020.

Simon Dawson/WPA Pool/Getty Images

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much-loved members of the family."

In addition to losing their involvement with numerous UK charities and patronages, Prince Harry will lose his honorary military appointments with The Royal Marines, the RAF Honington, and the Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving.

People reported that the couple will retain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles and will still be referred to as His/Her Royal Highness, though they do not actively use either of their titles.

In a statement released by Prince Harry and Meghan, the couple said they "remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of official role."

"We can all live a life of service. Service is universal," they concluded.

March 2021: Prince Harry and Meghan's sit-down, tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey airs in the US and the UK.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey.

CBS

On March 7, Prince Harry and Meghan's first sit-down interview since leaving the royal family, titled "Oprah with Meghan And Harry: A Primetime Special," aired on CBS in the US. The next day, the special interview aired in the UK.

The couple talked about everything from parenthood to life after leaving the royal family and the pressure they faced prior to doing so. 

In one part of the interview, Prince Harry compared himself to his mother, Princess Diana, and discussed the struggles they both faced as members of the royal family.

"For me, I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side because I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for [Diana] going through this process by herself all those years ago," he said in the interview. "Because it has been unbelievably tough for the two of us, but at least we have each other."

Markle also opened up about how she was "naive" before entering the royal family, her struggle with mental health while serving as a senior royal, and "concerns" from the royal family about "how dark [Archie's] skin might be."

In response to the interview, Buckingham Palace in a statement on behalf of the Queen that "the whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan."

"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately," it continued.

April 17, 2021: Prince Harry attends the funeral of Prince Philip while Meghan remains in California.
prince harry prince andrew at prince philip funeral
Prince Harry attends the funeral of Prince Philip on April 17, 2021.

GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Meghan had intended to travel to the UK with her husband to attend Prince Philip's funeral but was not given clearance to fly because of her pregnancy.

Prince Philip died, age 99, on April 9.

"My grandfather was a man of service, honor and great humor," Prince Harry said in a statement sent to Business Insider. "He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm—and also because you never knew what he might say next."

"He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa," Prince Harry continued.

He also called the late royal a "master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end."

"Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts," he added.

April 29, 2021: Harry and Meghan privately congratulate William and Middleton on their 10th wedding anniversary.
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Kate Middleton, Prince William, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry in 2018.

Chris J Ratcliffe/AFP via Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton wed on April 29, 2011.

People reported that Meghan and Harry privately congratulated the couple on the milestone. Queen Elizabeth also publicly congratulated the couple on social media.

May 19, 2021: Prince Harry and Meghan celebrate their third wedding anniversary.
prince harry meghan markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/Getty Images

Three years after their Windsor Castle royal wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan celebrated the milestone at their new home in Santa Barbara, California.

June 4, 2021: The couple welcomes their second child, a daughter named Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
prince harry meghan markle princess diana queen elizabeth
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth.

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/WPA Pool/Bettmann/Getty Images

The couple released an official statement announcing that Lilibet "Lili" Diana was born on Friday, June 4, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. 

"She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home," the statement read. 

The name "Lilibet" is the royal family's longtime nickname for Queen Elizabeth, but the couple will call their daughter Lili for short. 

"Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet," the couple said. "Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."

June 6, 2021: The couple announces the birth of their daughter but without the usual fanfare of royal birth.
announcement prince george
An easel stands in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace announcing the birth of Prince George.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

It's traditional for most royal births to have an announcement posted outside Buckingham Palace (pictured). However, the birth of Lilibet Diana was much more subdued, with the couple releasing a statement on their Archewell website.

"It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world," the statement read.

"She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we've felt from across the globe," the couple said. "Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family."

Unlike when Markle gave birth to Archie, there was no official photo call with the press.

June 8, 2021: Meghan publishes her first children's book, "The Bench," inspired by a Father's Day poem she wrote for Prince Harry.
meghan markle the bench
Meghan Markle and the cover of "The Bench."

Facundo Arrizabalaga - Pool/Getty Images, Penguin Random House

The children's book spoke about the relationship between a father and son from the perspective of a mother. The book featured illustrations by Christian Robinson and became a New York Times bestseller within a week of its release.

April 17, 2022: The couple shares some PDA at the Invictus Games.
meghan markle and prince harry at the 2022 invictus games
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the sitting volleyball event during the Invictus Games at Zuiderpark in The Hague, Netherlands, on April 17, 2022.

Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images

Prince Harry could be seen placing his hand on Markle's leg during a volleyball game. Meghan also wore jeans, a far cry from the more dressed-up style she had as a working royal.

May 6, 2022: Prince Harry and Meghan confirm they will attend the Queen's Jubilee in the UK, along with their two children.
prince harry and meghan markle attend the invictus games and hold up a british flag
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the 2022 Invictus Games.

Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images

"Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honored to attend The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children," the spokesperson said in a statement shared with Business Insider.

However, while the couple and their two children planned to attend the 70th-anniversary celebration of the Queen's reign, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they would not join the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour parade alongside other members of the royal family.

May 19, 2022: Prince Harry and Meghan celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel.

Ben Birchhall/Pool Photo via AP

Prince Harry and Meghan were married four years ago on May 19, 2018. Here are some photos of what other royal couples looked like when they first started dating versus now.

June 3, 2022: Prince Harry and Meghan return to the UK for the first time since their royal exit to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.
prince harry and meghan markle attending a service celebrating queen elizabeth's platinum jubilee
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after a service celebrating the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London on June 3, 2022.

Matt Dunham/AP

The royal couple was spotted at the Trooping the Colour parade, which celebrated Queen Elizabeth's historic 70-year reign. However, they did not appear alongside other members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. 

Following a thanksgiving service at St. Paul's Cathedral, which they attended along with Prince William and Kate Middleton, the couple could be seen being booed by fans as they exited. They did not attend a royal luncheon following the service, The Mirror reported.

June 6, 2022: The couple shares a new photo of their daughter, who has red hair like her dad and brother.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Harry and Meghan celebrated their daughter Lilibet's first birthday during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London.

A spokesperson for the royal couple told Page Six that Lilibet's birthday party was a "casual, intimate backyard picnic" for "close friends and family" at Frogmore Cottage, the couple's previous residence.

Prince William and Kate Middleton were reportedly invited to the family affair but didn't attend due to a planned trip to Wales. Lilibet was introduced to her namesake, Queen Elizabeth, following the Trooping the Colour parade.

"It's simply a coincidence they fell on the same day," a source told Entertainment Tonight. "There was no intended slight."

Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince William, and Middleton did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

August 29, 2022: Meghan tells The Cut that she and Prince Harry navigate life in Montecito, California, "like salt and pepper."
meghan markle and prince harry in july 2022
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the United Nations Headquarters on July 18, 2022, in New York City.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Meghan said she was teaching her son, Archie, that the polite way to pass salt and pepper shakers across a table is by holding them together. She then told the outlet that this reminded her of the way she and Prince Harry are navigating their new life together in Montecito, California. 

"'You never move one without the other,'" she told The Cut. "That's me and Harry. We're like salt and pepper. We always move together."

Sep 19, 2022: Prince Harry and Meghan attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exit the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exit the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey.

WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022. Her eldest son, King Charles, immediately ascended to the throne following her death.

Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and other members of the royal family attended her funeral on September 19. Some 2,000 people also gathered at Westminster Abbey to pay their respects to the Queen.

December 1, 2022: The first trailer for Prince Harry and Meghan's Netflix documentary series is released.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the trailer for their new Netflix docueseries "Harry & Meghan."
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the trailer for their new Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan."

Netflix

The couple's new documentary series, "Harry & Meghan," consisted of six episodes and was released on Netflix on December 8. The trailer for the series featured interviews with the couple and behind-the-scenes photos from their royal life. It promised to give an in-depth, personal look at their decision to "step back" from royal life.

"When the stakes are this high, doesn't it make more sense to hear our story from us?" Markle asks in the trailer.

"I had to do everything I could to protect my family," Harry says during an interview. 

January 2023: Prince Harry releases his memoir, "Spare." It gives further insight into the couple's relationship.
prince harry spare
Copies of Prince Harry's "Spare" at a bookstore in London.

Justin Tallis/Getty Images

The title of the book reflects Harry's position as the "spare" in relation to his older brother, William, the heir to the throne, and his unlikely path to kingship. In the book, Harry discussed his complex relationship with William, describing him as both a "beloved brother" and an "arch nemesis."

The tell-all memoir also detailed his relationship with Markle, including concerns that his sister-in-law Kate Middleton was "going to be compared to, and forced to compete with, Meg." 

June 2023: The couple exits their deal with Spotify, ending the three-year partnership.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in May 2023.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in May 2023.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Reports emerged in June 2023 that Markle and Harry had ended their partnership with Spotify and would no longer produce content on the platform.

Reports also said that Meghan and Harry would not receive the full $20 million payout from their Spotify deal. 

"The podcast will no longer be produced at Spotify as we are mutually parting ways," a spokesperson for Archewell Audio, the couple's production company, told Business Insider.

In February 2024, Meghan announced that she had signed a new partnership with Lemonada Media, Deadline reported.

July 2023: Unfounded rumors circulate that Meghan and Harry are having relationship problems.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend a basketball game during the Invictus Games in September 2023.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended a basketball game during the Invictus Games in September 2023.

Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images

The tabloid Radar Online originally reported that the couple was facing "tremendous financial pressure" and a "trial separation" after the end of their Spotify deal, citing an unnamed source who said "that stress coupled with their emotional issues has likely made life a living hell. Taking time apart on different continents will hopefully help them find whatever they need to move on."

However, Page Six disputed the rumors, citing a source close to the couple who said, "It's not true. It's literally made up."

September 2023: Harry and Meghan make multiple public appearances as a couple.
Meghan, Harry, Beyonce and Jay Z.JPG
Harry and Meghan met Beyoncé and Jay-Z in July 2019.

Niklas Halle'n/ Pool via Reuters.

The pair attended a basketball game during the Invictus Games and a Beyoncé concert at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, dispelling speculation that the couple had separated.

The couple, wearing matching silver outfits, was spotted dancing together and kissing in a private box at the concert. 

March 2024: Meghan announces that she will launch American Riviera Orchard, a lifestyle and alcohol brand.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle smile together in a crowd.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Colombia in August 2024.

Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

The New York Post reported that, according to a trademark application filed by Meghan's lawyers and reviewed by the outlet, Meghan's new brand will sell tableware, drinkware, kitchen linens, jams, marmalade, cookbooks, and other products. 

Tatler also reported in June 2024 that the first product available for purchase by the public will be rosé wine. Meghan joins a long list of celebrities who have their own alcohol brands

May 2024: The couple travels to Nigeria for public appearances at the Lightway Academy school.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a volleyball match in Nigeria in May 2024.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a volleyball match in Nigeria in May 2024.

Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty Images

"These trips are about us being able to go out and go and focus on the things that mean so much to us," Meghan, who recently found out she is part-Nigerian, told People. "And being able to be on the ground, to us, is what it's all about."

People reported that Nigeria's chief of defense staff, General Christopher Musa, invited the couple to visit the country. The trip was not meant to compensate for other royal family members stepping back from public duties — both King Charles and Kate Middleton were battling cancer. Kate is now cancer-free and plans to resume public work next year.

June 2024: Harry and Meghan do not attend Trooping the Colour for the second year in a row.
Prince George of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace on June 15, 2024
Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Kate Middleton, King Charles, and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace on June 15, 2024.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

People reported that the couple had not received invitations from Harry's family to attend the annual event, which celebrated King Charles' second birthday as monarch. 

November 2024: Harry and Meghan celebrate a "low-key" Thanksgiving with friends in California.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry hold hands and walk through a tunnel.
Meghan and Harry in 2024.

Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

"I was thinking about, in the past few years of having Thanksgiving here, like many of us, I think you always make sure there's room at the table for your friends who don't have family, which is really key," Meghan told Marie Claire in a recent interview.

"We're always making sure we have something fun to do," she said. "Like any other family, you spend time having a great meal, and then what do you do? Play games, all the same stuff, someone brings a guitar — fun."

December 4, 2024: Prince Harry comments publicly on speculation about his and Meghan's relationship, dispelling divorce reports.
Andrew Ross Sorkin and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speak onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024
Andrew Ross Sorkin and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, spoke onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024.

Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

In a conversation with New York Times columnist and DealBook founder Andrew Ross Sorkin during a panel at the 2024 DealBook Summit hosted by The New York Times, Harry joked about the constant reports and attention he and his wife receive from the press — positive and negative. 

"Apparently we've bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We've apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well," he said, laughing, People reported. "So it's just like, 'what?'"

"It's hard to keep up with, but that's why you just sort of ignore it. The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls," he continued. "Their hopes are just built and built, and it's like, 'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,' and then it doesn't happen. So I feel sorry for them. Genuinely, I do."

Harry also said that he enjoys his life in the US and doesn't regret leaving the UK, adding it's what he believes his mother, Princess Diana, would have wanted for him. 

 "I very much enjoy living here and bringing up my kids here. It's a part of my life that I never thought that I was gonna live," he told Sorkin. 

"I feel as though it's the life that my mom wanted for me," he continued. "To be able to do the things I'm able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn't be able to do in the UK — it's huge. I'm hugely grateful for that."

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