It has been more than half a decade since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated to the US for a fresh chapter, and the new direction they have taken is clear in the carefully curated cards they have released annually – along with the rest of the royal family – to mark the festive season.

From the outset, Harry and Meghan have forged their own path, and that’s just as true when it comes to their Christmas greetings – part statement, part scrapbook – weaving together celebrity sheen, philanthropic purpose and tender glimpses of family life.

They set the tone with their 2018 card, which celebrated their union with a shot from their wedding party. Beautifully produced and with a definite Hollywood vibe, it is perhaps the only official royal greeting to show its protagonists with their backs to the camera. Arm-in-arm, the couple gaze at the fireworks that fill the sky above them – a bold visual metaphor for trailblazers with a bright future together.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s 2018 card used an image taken on their wedding day

Their 2019 card, unsurprisingly, saw a seven-month-old Archie take centre stage, adorably gazing at the camera head on. The posed snapshot was taken by Meghan’s friend Janina Gavankar and gave royal watchers a glimpse into how the Sussexes were cherishing family time away from the spotlight, in Canada.

The couple’s son Archie was the main focus on their 2019 card

After stepping back from royal duties and relocating to California with Archie and later Lilibet, the Sussexes’ cards evolved in style and substance. In 2020, Archie enjoyed an American-style Christmas in a painted storybook scene, signalling a new chapter for the family and their embrace of life across the Atlantic.

There was an American-style theme adopted for 2020

Shift from personal photos to storytelling

By 2021, the family was complete, with celebrity photographer Alexi Lubomirski – who also took the couple’s engagement and wedding photos – capturing Lilibet’s public debut. The card read “Happy Holidays” in true US style, a small but telling shift that reflected their new identity.

Lilibet made her debut on the family’s 2021 Christmas card

From there, their greetings began to lean less on personal portraits and more on storytelling.