Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released their Christmas message for 2025, continuing a holiday tradition they have maintained since their marriage in 2018. This year’s greeting arrived in a slightly different format, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex choosing to share a short video rather than a printed holiday card. The message reflects both their family life in California and their ongoing charitable work through their nonprofit organization.

The video, shared publicly in December, offers a curated look at moments from the couple’s year, combining brief family scenes with footage from humanitarian and community-focused initiatives supported by their foundation. As in previous years, the Sussexes maintained a strong emphasis on privacy, particularly when it comes to their children.

A Modern Approach to a Holiday Tradition

Rather than a posed photograph or illustrated card, the 2025 Christmas message took the form of a short montage video. The format allowed Harry and Meghan to highlight personal and professional moments from the past year while keeping the tone understated and consistent with their public approach since stepping back from official royal duties.

The couple’s children, Prince Archie, now six, and Princess Lilibet, aged four, appear briefly in the video. In keeping with the Sussexes’ long-stated commitment to protecting their children’s privacy, the footage avoids clear views of their faces, showing them only from behind or at angles that limit identification.

This approach mirrors previous public appearances involving the children, where visibility has been carefully managed to balance family life with public interest.

Community Engagement in California

One of the central moments in the Christmas video features the family participating in a community service activity in California. The Sussexes are shown assisting with meal preparation during a visit organized through a partnership between Archewell and Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, a nonprofit initiative focused on providing meals to those in need.

According to publicly available information, Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles works with volunteers and community partners to prepare and distribute food to individuals and families facing food insecurity. The Sussexes’ visit aligns with Archewell’s broader emphasis on community-based support and direct engagement.

In the video, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are seen working alongside volunteers, while Archie and Lilibet take part in age-appropriate ways, such as helping move supplies and accompanying their parents. The scenes reinforce the family’s focus on service while maintaining a low-key presentation.

A Year in Review Through a Humanitarian Lens

Beyond the family-focused moments, the Christmas message includes brief clips from Harry and Meghan’s public and charitable engagements throughout 2025. These scenes provide a snapshot of the causes they continue to support, including mental health initiatives, community resilience programs, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations.

The video does not include detailed narration or commentary, instead relying on visuals to convey the scope of their work. This restrained approach is consistent with previous Archewell communications, which tend to emphasize action and collaboration rather than personal commentary.

Archewell Announces a New Chapter

Alongside the Christmas message, Prince Harry and Meghan announced an important update to their charitable organization. To mark its fifth anniversary, the Archewell Foundation has officially been renamed Archewell Philanthropies.

The name change was confirmed through a public statement and reflected in the holiday message signed at the end of the video. According to reporting by reputable outlets including People, the updated name is intended to better represent the organization’s evolving structure and expanding scope of work.

In the statement, Archewell explained that the transition reflects a broader philanthropic vision while remaining grounded in the same values and partnerships that have guided the organization since its launch in 2020. The focus, according to the organization, remains on long-term impact, collaboration, and community-driven solutions.

A Message of Seasonal Goodwill

The written greeting accompanying the Christmas video was signed on behalf of the Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Archewell. The message extended holiday wishes and reflected the inclusive tone that has characterized many of the couple’s public communications.

Rather than addressing specific events or challenges from the year, the message focused on general goodwill and optimism for the year ahead, aligning with the broader spirit of the holiday season.

Royal Family Christmas Messages in 2025

The Sussexes’ Christmas release came during a period when other members of the British royal family also shared festive greetings. Earlier in December, King Charles III and Queen Camilla released their official Christmas card for 2025.

The card featured a portrait taken in April during celebrations marking the couple’s twentieth wedding anniversary. The image was captured in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence in Rome, during a state visit. The photograph shows the King and Queen standing together, with a simple holiday message wishing recipients a happy Christmas and New Year.

As with previous years, the King and Queen’s card followed a more traditional format, reflecting their roles within the monarchy and longstanding royal customs.

Different Paths, Shared Traditions

Taken together, the various royal Christmas messages released in 2025 highlight how different branches of the royal family continue to observe shared traditions in distinct ways. While King Charles and Queen Camilla maintain formal customs associated with the monarchy, Prince Harry and Meghan have adopted a more contemporary, media-based approach that aligns with their independent roles and philanthropic focus.

Despite these differences, the underlying themes of family, service, and seasonal goodwill remain consistent across the messages.

Conclusion

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2025 Christmas message offered a carefully curated glimpse into their year, balancing family life, community service, and charitable work. Through a short video and the announcement of Archewell Philanthropies, the Sussexes emphasized continuity in their values while marking a new chapter for their organization.

As the holiday season continues, the message stands as part of a broader tradition of seasonal greetings across the royal family, reflecting both shared heritage and evolving public roles in a changing media landscape.