Meghan Markle Shares a Beloved Christmas Tradition from Royal Life That She Celebrates in California
Meghan Markle in Netflix’s ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’.
Credit :
Jake Rosenberg/Netflix
NEED TO KNOW
- Meghan Markle showcases a cherished British Christmas tradition in her Netflix holiday special.
- The hour-long episode, now streaming, features Meghan crafting her own Christmas crackers, festive paper toys that reveal treats when pulled apart.
- Christmas crackers have long been a part of royal holiday festivities, with Meghan describing them as ‘really connected and sweet’.
Meghan Markle is honoring a beloved British Christmas tradition for her family.
The Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, premiered on December 3. In this festive hour-long episode, Meghan shares her favorite holiday entertaining tips with a number of notable friends.
In one segment, Meghan, 44, collaborates with restaurateur Will Guidara, co-founder of the NoMad restaurant group. The pair crafts Christmas crackers in the craft room of Meghan’s rented home in Montecito, California.
Christmas crackers are cardboard tubes wrapped in festive paper, tied at both ends. When pulled, a friction strip inside causes the cracker to “snap,” revealing a treat, a message, and traditionally, a paper crown for the winner.
“Living in the U.K., it’s just such a big part of [the culture over there],” Meghan explains to Guidara. “Typically, people cross their arms and do it. They sit around the table, and they all pull at the same time… It does feel really connected and sweet. The way that I started to know them was that they would always have a fortune cookie-sized joke or riddle and something sweet inside.”
Meghan Markle and Will Guidara pull Christmas crackers in ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’.
Netflix/YouTube
Meghan experienced two royal Christmases at Sandringham—once in 2017, shortly after her engagement to Harry, and again in 2018 during the early years of their marriage. The couple spent the 2019 holidays in Canada, shortly before stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
The British royal family has long incorporated Christmas crackers into their holiday traditions. Tom Smith, a British manufacturer, claims to have invented the novelty in 1847 and has held a royal warrant since 1906 to supply crackers to the royal family. The late Queen Elizabeth was known to read the jokes aloud during Christmas lunch at Sandringham.
The brand’s website notes, “Tom Smith still proudly holds the honor of producing special crackers each year for the Royal Household, although designs and contents are a closely guarded secret.”
Queen Elizabeth is shown how Christmas crackers are made during a visit to International Greetings UK Ltd in Ystrad Mynach, Wales, in April 2014.
Ben Birchall/WPA Pool/Getty
For her homemade crackers, Meghan included unique touches for each family member. Harry’s cracker contains “a little love letter, a chocolate, and a little hat,” while the cracker for her son, Prince Archie, centers on his favorite things: hamburgers and the color red.
As for her daughter, Princess Lilibet, Meghan indulges her current interests by including “a lavender roller ball,” reflecting Lilibet’s aspiration to be a “grown-up lady.”
Meghan and Guidara also engage in a test cracker, where Guidara “wins” by pulling the larger half, which includes confetti and prizes.
Meghan Markle and Will Guidara make Christmas crackers in ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’.
Jake Rosenberg/Netflix
In addition to making crackers, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration features appearances from tennis champion Naomi Osaka, chef Tom Colicchio, Meghan’s close friend Kelly McKee Zajfen, and longtime friend Lindsay Roth.
“I love the holiday season,” Meghan expresses in the trailer. “It’s about finding time to connect with the people we love, embracing traditions, and making new ones.”
Meghan Markle in ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’.
Jake Rosenberg/Netflix
Throughout the special, Meghan visits a Christmas tree farm, prepares holiday treats for friends, and demonstrates gift-wrapping techniques. Prince Harry makes a brief appearance, sharing a sweet moment with his wife as he enjoys some holiday treats in their kitchen.
The special coincides with the launch of Meghan’s first holiday collection from her lifestyle brand, As Ever, featuring products such as sparkling wines, hand-poured candles, and artisanal spreads, some of which are displayed in the special.
With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration is currently streaming on Netflix.
