Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Private Christmas Card Reveals New Photo of Archie and Lilibet

The private image from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's 2023 Christmas card for family and friends popped up in an unexpected way

Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Colombia on August 18, 2024

Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Colombia on August 18, 2024

A family picture featuring Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, almost went unnoticed.

Nearly two months after Architectural Digest shared a look inside Gloria Steinem's New York City home, eagle-eyed fans realized that a previously unseen photo of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's family was displayed on a side table. The black-and-white snap showed the family of four smiling while lying down in the grass.

The photo was inside the private holiday card that the couple sent to their close friends and family in 2023. Meghan and Steinem are friends, and the feminist activist told PEOPLE in 2022 that the Duchess of Sussex was "smart and funny and devoted to social issues."

Meghan, 43, and Prince Harry, 40, also sent two separate Christmas cards in 2024. In addition to a private one for family and friends that has not been seen by the public, they released a holiday card in December featuring six photos. Five of the images surrounded their public work throughout 2024, showing their tours to Nigeria and Colombia, with one new family photo that showed Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, as well as their dogs: Guy (who recently died), Pula and Mia. The snap showed the children, both sporting red hair like their dad, from behind as they excitedly ran toward their parents.

Archewell Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie in their 2024 holiday card

Archewell

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie in their 2024 holiday card

Related: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Children: All About Archie and Lilibet

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In 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan used their holiday card to share the first photo of their daughter, who was born that June. "This year, 2021, we welcomed our daughter, Lilibet, to the world. Archie made us a 'Mama' and a 'Papa,' and Lili made us a family," they said on the card.

While Archie and Lili have appeared in photos shared with the public before, including the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, the snaps are often careful not to show their faces. Meghan and Prince Harry have made a point to keep their children's lives private to protect them.

"Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats. He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm," a friend told PEOPLE last summer.

"As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself," the friend added, referring to the fate of Harry's mother, Princess Diana.

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Meghan recently returned to posting on Instagram, and a tribute to Guy following his death featured several previously unseen images and video clips of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

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In her latest video, the Duchess of Sussex shared the story of how she scored Billie Eilish merchandise that she planned to give to a 15-year-old whose home was damaged in the L.A. fires in January. The mother of two sported a custom sweatshirt featuring Archie and Lili's names along the collar.

Read the original article on People