Prince Harry and Meghan’s California-fied Christmas Card Apparently Confused the Palace
And it's not because of Harry’s bare feet.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2021 Christmas card is still causing a stir. In addition to being the world’s first official glimpse of baby Lilibet Diana since her birth in June, the card offered a rare glimpse of Archie in toddlerhood, and exuded some really laid-back, barefoot, denim-clad California vibes to match the couple’s new life in the U.S. But apparently, some in the Palace want to harsh those vibes, expressing confusion over the couple’s card.
According to Express UK, an unnamed royal insider spoke with commentator Neil Sean (as Sean recounted on his YouTube channel) and claimed that other senior royals were “confused” by the “Californian” theme of the card. And before you assume that’s just royal-speak for “Bare feet in public! Good heavens!,” the source did offer some more insight.
First, the other royals were apparently weirded out by the use of “Happy Holidays” on the card, instead of the more traditionally royal “Merry Christmas.” Which is silly, because it should be obvious that Harry and Meghan are foot soldiers in the War on Christmas. The insider also told Sean that the small, Abercrombie-ish rip in Harry’s jeans suggested “rebel teenager,” which is apparently a uniquely Californian thing? Do the senior royals know that California is, in fact, a state and not some kind of religious cult into which Harry and Meghan have been indoctrinated?
Apparently not, because, per Sean, the Queen holds Christmas is great affection and the choice of different terminology on the card may have been seen as disrespectful. He added, “I'm told this phrase Happy Holidays is very much a Californian slang."
I mean, it’s not. But OK. To be honest, this criticism is much nicer than what we expected, which was a commentary on Harry’s insistence on going barefoot whenever possible. But feet remarks were apparently left on the table, which means Harry is free to walk shoeless another day.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Marie Claire is committed to celebrating the richness and scope of women's lives. We're known for our award-winning features, thoughtful essays and op-eds, deep commitment to sustainable fashion, and buzzy interviews and reviews. Reaching millions of women every month, MarieClaire.com is an internationally-recognized destination for celebrity news, fashion trends, beauty recommendations, and renowned investigative packages.
-
London Residents "Shocked" After Prince Harry Rang "Wrong" Doorbell Searching for Friend's House
"I don't think many people would just walk down a road knocking on doors."
-
Why Princess Diana Regretted Mentioning One Former Lover in Her BBC 'Panorama' Interview, According to Royal Expert
"She had said, if you remember, that she was in love with him."
-
Royal Expert Says Princess Diana Would Be "Proud" of Prince Harry's Candid BBC Interview
"She liked to say exactly what she thought and then deal with the consequences afterwards."
-
Meghan Markle Does Date Night in a Denim Carolina Herrera Dress at Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Tour
The Sussexes were photographed enjoying Beyoncé's performance while dancing in the VIP box.
-
Prince Harry Spends Prince Archie's Birthday Honoring Princess Diana's Legacy After Bombshell BBC Interview
"This generation isn’t waiting for permission to lead — they are already doing it."
-
Why King Charles Is Reportedly "Frustrated and Upset" by Prince Harry’s Security Appeal
Charles is also reportedly upset with Harry "on a more personal level."
-
Prince Harry's Years-Long Battle to Reinstate His Security Has Ended After Judge Dismisses Case
The Duke of Sussex faced a major blow in his bid to protect himself and his family in the U.K.
-
Princess Diana "Insisted" Prince Harry and Prince William Buck One Tradition That Prince George Is Facing
The late princess took control when it came to this aspect of her sons' lives.