In the tranquil coastal community of Montecito, California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have quietly established a comfortable family life far from the traditional royal spotlight. Over the past few years, Meghan Markle has openly shared a few of her favorite holiday customs, revealing a sincere desire to connect with friends, family, and even unexpected guests. Once lauded for bringing a modern perspective to royal life, Meghan continues to embrace a spirit of inclusivity and warmth—particularly during the holiday season.
A Home Away from the Spotlight
Since stepping back from senior royal duties in 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have lived in Montecito, a small but picturesque enclave nestled near the Pacific Ocean. Known for its lush gardens, tree-lined streets, and relative seclusion, Montecito offers an atmosphere decidedly different from the high-octane environment of central London or major media hubs. The couple’s home there has become a haven where they’ve begun to establish traditions distinctly their own.
For Meghan, the Thanksgiving holiday is an especially meaningful time. As an American, Thanksgiving naturally carries a nostalgic quality, a day long associated with family gatherings, reflective gratitude, and shared meals. Now that she is raising her own family in the United States, Meghan has spoken about her determination to preserve the wholesome elements of Thanksgiving that she cherished in her youth, while also embracing Prince Harry’s perspective and adapting to their joint, multicultural family life.
Low-Key but Meaningful Festivities
In interviews, Meghan has described her Thanksgiving gatherings as “low-key” and “heartwarming”—words that evoke images of a cozy, convivial atmosphere. Beyond the usual components of a traditional holiday feast, Meghan emphasizes the importance of creating space for anyone who might not have close family nearby. She has gone on record saying that hosting friends who find themselves alone during the holidays is a crucial aspect of their celebration: “Over the past few years, hosting Thanksgiving here, like many of us, I think it’s key to make room at the table for friends who don’t have family. That’s really important.”
This ethos underscores a broader pattern the Duchess has demonstrated throughout her public life. Even before becoming a royal, Meghan frequently championed community service, female empowerment, and supportive networks. During Thanksgiving, she appears to extend this philosophy to her dinner table as well, reminding others that the holiday can be as much about forging new bonds and camaraderie as it is about reuniting with loved ones.
Doria Ragland: A Constant Presence
One familiar face who regularly attends Thanksgiving at the Sussex household is Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland. Residents of Los Angeles, where Doria lives, have often remarked on the close relationship between mother and daughter. Indeed, Meghan has referred to her mother as a pillar of support through life’s many twists, including moving countries, marrying into the British Royal Family, and stepping into her role as a mother of two.
When Thanksgiving arrives, Doria’s involvement is a cherished part of the festivities. She has been present for past celebrations, offering not just help in the kitchen but also the warmth and perspective only a loving grandparent can provide. Observers note how meaningful it must be for Meghan—who has spent many of her recent holidays abroad or under intense public scrutiny—to enjoy the comfort of her mother’s company on a more intimate, personal scale.
The Sussex Children: Festive New Traditions
One of the joys Meghan and Harry often mention is watching their children, Archie and Lilibet, delight in the holiday season’s magic. While the couple famously guards their children’s privacy, they have occasionally shared endearing anecdotes about life at home. According to Meghan, the little ones find great excitement in the simple pleasures of the season: from decorating the house to participating in small acts of kindness, like leaving carrots for reindeer on Christmas Eve.
Thanksgiving, for its part, offers an opportunity to teach Archie and Lilibet about gratitude, generosity, and bonding. Close sources hint that Prince Harry, raised within the pageantry of royal traditions, has embraced these American customs wholeheartedly, seeing in them a chance to enrich his children’s lives with diverse cultural elements.
In one of her interviews, Meghan spoke candidly about how she’s trying to make the holiday fun for her young ones: “We’re always making sure we have something enjoyable to do—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.” That relaxed attitude resonates with many parents who are also juggling busy work schedules, extended family obligations, and the desire to build meaningful experiences for their children.
Surprising Guests and New Connections
While most might assume that holiday gatherings for the Duke and Duchess would be limited to personal friends or family members, Meghan’s open-door policy occasionally brings in guests that some might not expect. Over the years, a few notable names have appeared at the Sussexes’ Thanksgiving table, reflecting their commitment to inclusivity and the powerful personal connections they’ve forged since moving to North America.
One such guest Meghan mentioned is the iconic activist Gloria Steinem. This might sound surprising to some, but the two women have a well-known friendship, forged through shared activism on voting rights and women’s empowerment. Meghan recalled that Steinem once joined their Thanksgiving celebration, contributing her stories and wisdom as the group gathered to express gratitude for life’s blessings.
It’s not difficult to imagine the lively atmosphere with Meghan, Harry, Doria Ragland, and a figure like Gloria Steinem exchanging ideas and anecdotes. The presence of someone so deeply entrenched in social justice efforts reflects Meghan’s own passion for causes promoting human rights, equality, and female empowerment. It also aligns seamlessly with the Sussexes’ philanthropic engagements, reminding observers that their personal values blend closely with their professional and charitable endeavors.
Balancing Intimacy and Public Curiosity
Despite these glimpses into their home life, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain keen on maintaining a level of privacy. Their decision to step back from royal duties was largely motivated by the desire to shield their family from incessant media intrusion. While occasional interviews and social media posts offer a small peek, Meghan and Harry exercise careful control over the narratives surrounding their children, home, and holiday traditions.
For many, the curiosity about their day-to-day lives only grows with these cursory updates. How does a family with two young children handle the intricacies of Thanksgiving meal prep? Does Prince Harry infuse any British holiday elements into the festivities, or have they wholly embraced American customs? These are questions that fans—and critics alike—would love answered in detail. Yet, as far as the Sussexes are concerned, such specifics remain closely guarded.
Still, they do convey core values: gratitude, community, service, and togetherness. Each time Meghan speaks about hosting friends who have no family nearby, or cherishing quiet moments with the children, it resonates with an audience seeking human stories within the high-profile swirl of the royal narrative.
Christmas Eve Traditions and Looking Forward
Meghan has also touched upon how the Sussex family blends Thanksgiving festivities into the broader holiday season. One particularly sweet detail involves Archie and Lilibet leaving out carrots for reindeer on Christmas Eve—an innocent ritual that captures the spirit of childhood wonder. Such traditions are gentle reminders that, behind the titles and tabloid headlines, Meghan and Harry are finding joy in everyday family rituals.
Of course, the couple’s dynamic calendar extends well beyond the holiday season. They engage in various philanthropic activities through Archewell, the organization they founded to support community-focused projects. Even so, the holiday period seems to offer a special chance for them to pause, enjoy personal connections, and reflect on how far they’ve come since their earliest days together.
A Personal Celebration of Gratitude
Ultimately, Thanksgiving at the Sussex household in Montecito appears to be less about extravagant feasts and more about an inclusive, reflective spirit. Meghan’s remarks offer a consistent message: the holiday serves as a platform for heartfelt gratitude and the opportunity to share warmth with others. Whether that means inviting neighbors without family in the vicinity, hosting longtime friends, or sharing the table with prominent figures like Gloria Steinem, the ethos remains the same.
In a world where the monarchy often connotes formality, rules, and centuries of entrenched custom, Meghan and Harry’s approach to festive gatherings underscores their evolution as a modern royal-adjacent family. While they retain certain ties to the Royal Family, they have chosen to celebrate in a manner that feels genuinely aligned with Meghan’s American heritage and their mutual ideals. For some, this marks a refreshing break from precedent; for others, it is a point of curiosity or even contention.
Looking ahead, it’s likely that the Sussexes will continue shaping their holiday customs to reflect the growing personalities and interests of their children. Each new season brings fresh opportunities for hosting, philanthropic involvement, and relaxed family togetherness. Observers can only guess which new guests might appear at future Thanksgiving dinners or how Archie and Lilibet will carry these traditions forward as they grow older.
What remains certain is that in Montecito—a place where ocean breezes meet a laid-back, tight-knit community—Meghan and Harry have found a nurturing environment for creating meaningful holiday memories. Their Thanksgiving gatherings, brimming with gratitude and inclusivity, encapsulate the close-knit, welcoming atmosphere that seems to guide much of what the Sussex family does. Even from their position outside official royal duties, they’ve managed to inspire curiosity, conversation, and admiration—fueling a sense that the spirit of Thanksgiving can indeed bridge differences, bring people together, and generate lasting joy.
