When Was Meghan Markle’s Holiday Special Really Filmed? Here’s a Key Hint.

Meghan Markle.
Credit: Jake Rosenberg/Netflix

NEED TO KNOW

• Meghan Markle’s new Netflix special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, is streaming for the Christmas season. However, viewers have observed that it was not filmed this year.
• The special was recorded shortly after seasons 1 and 2 of With Love, which were filmed in late spring to early summer of 2024.
• A clue regarding the timeline is a brief appearance by Meghan’s rescue beagle, Guy, who passed away in January.

Meghan Markle’s Netflix special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, has premiered just in time for the Christmas festivities. However, questions have arisen among viewers regarding its filming date.

This hour-long feature showcases the Duchess of Sussex sharing holiday hosting tips, traditions, and joyful kitchen moments with friends and several new guests. Notably, keen viewers have identified a detail that reveals the special’s filming timeline.

Early in the episode, Meghan’s rescue beagle, Guy, is shown wandering through the rented Montecito home. This charming yet poignant moment signals that the episode was recorded last year.

Guy passed away in January 2025, shortly before Meghan issued an emotional tribute, describing him as “the best guy any girl could have asked for.” Similar to seasons 1 and 2 of With Love, Meghan, the holiday special was filmed before his passing. Season 1 even concluded with a heartfelt dedication noting, “In loving memory of Guy.”

When the premiere of the first season occurred in March, Meghan captivated audiences by dedicating it to her beloved dog, with a tribute reading, “In loving memory of Guy.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with Guy the dog.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram

Along with her husband Prince Harry, Meghan has also adopted other dogs: a black Labrador named Pula and a senior rescue beagle named Mamma Mia. However, only Guy makes an appearance in the holiday special, adding a bittersweet touch.

Seasons 1 and 2 of With Love, Meghan were filmed consecutively in the spring and summer of 2024. The holiday special’s production took place a few months later, during the early weeks of the previous year’s holiday season.

The Holiday Celebration episode opens with Meghan visiting a Christmas tree farm, which typically opens in California around mid-November, providing an initial clue about the filming window. Later, guest Will Guidara casually mentions that the holiday special filming is “one of the first festive things” he has done, reinforcing that cameras were indeed rolling at the beginning of the holiday period in 2024.

Will Guidara and Meghan Markle in ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration.’
Credit: Jake Rosenberg/Netflix

Regardless, Meghan infuses her special with holiday cheer. She and Guidara create personalized “Christmas crackers,” a cherished British tradition that she and Harry continue for their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.

The Holiday Celebration also showcases Meghan crafting with tennis champion Naomi Osaka, preparing gumbo with chef and Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio, and enjoying a festive brunch with long-time friends Kelly McKee Zajfen and author-producer Lindsay Jill Roth.

Meghan Markle in ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’.
Credit: Jake Rosenberg/Netflix

Prince Harry makes a brief appearance towards the conclusion of the episode, sharing a tender kiss with Meghan as he samples some treats in their kitchen.

“I love the holiday season,” the Duchess of Sussex expresses in the trailer, emphasizing the importance of connecting with loved ones, embracing traditions, and creating new ones.

The special also showcases items from her lifestyle brand’s inaugural holiday collection, As Ever. This collection includes sparkling wines, hand-poured candles, artisanal fruit spreads, and golden California honey—many of which feature as she shares kitchen tips and gift recommendations.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Tom Colicchio in ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’.
Credit: Jake Rosenberg/Netflix

Recently, Meghan announced that As Ever’s signature fruit spread gift box was featured on Oprah Winfrey’s annual holiday wish list, Oprah’s Favorite Things. Winfrey, a friend of the Sussexes, praised the product in her gift guide.

“Before my neighbor Meghan started her business, she shared her homemade recipes with us,” said Winfrey. “I love to drizzle it on an English muffin or yogurt or ice cream. I also enjoy bringing a jar of jam or preserves as a hostess gift, and with this charming box set, you’re all set to go.”

With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration is currently available for streaming on Netflix.