PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have released a “delightful” family Christmas card – which shows they are ready to leave Royal rows behind.
The sweet family snap, which featured a first glimpse of baby Lillibet, shows the ex-senior working Royals have reached a “turning point,” claims a royal expert.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex beamed as they showed off their little girl for the first time yesterday.
The picture was taken by the couple’s wedding photographer Alexi Lubomirski.
Meghan, 40, can be seen raising a giggling Lilibet – who was named after the Queen – into the air.
Meanwhile Harry, 37, in ripped jeans and no shoes, laughs as he cuddles their two-year-old son Archie – who sports a shock of red hair, just like his dad.
The message on the card reads: “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.”
It adds: “Wishing you a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year, from our family to yours! As ever, Harry, Meghan, Archie & Lili”.
Royal Expert Phil Dampier, who has covered the firm for more than three decades, said the card could point to a new, softer era for the couple.
The Sussexes infamously dramatically quit as senior working royals in January 2020, with two tumultuous years fraught with legal battles and explosive interviews following.
And in 2022, Harry is set to release a memoir that is “an honest and captivating personal portrait” of the Duke’s life.
But after a year of thinly-veiled jibes, and the claim one royal made a comment about baby Archie’s skin colour, the Sussex’s Christmas card shows they’re ready to move on.
Royal expert Mr Dampier said: “They look very relaxed, and they look very happy. I detect a slight softening in their general sort of attitude. I hope it’s a turning point, and an indication of a new, softer era.
“It’s very upbeat and positive, and they have also made a donation to charity. And the Christmas card is an ideal way to introduce Lillibet to the world.
“It is possible that they realise that they might have overdone some of the criticism of the Royal Family, and hopefully, they might roll some of it back.
“If this is the start of an attempt to improve their image and generally be more upbeat and positive – then fair enough.”
But he added: “Obviously, we will have to wait and see what is in Harry’s book, personally I’d like to see him bin it – but I don’t think he’s going to do it.
“I don’t think anyone begrudges them happiness, I think they just wish they would stop criticising the Royal Family so much.”
The former royal reporter said the display – featuring bare feet and matching denim – also shows the family are nicely settled in America, alongside the fact they chose to wish a “Happy Holidays” as opposed to a more Brit-friendly “Merry Christmas”.
He said: “They’ve said Happy Holidays, as opposed to Merry Christmas, which is an Americanism and is an indication of how settled Harry is in America.
“Some people have even noticed, apparently, that he has a slight American twang in his accent now too.
“So, clearly Harry is settled in California. And that’s where their future lies. I don’t many visits back home for them.”
The expert also said the couple’s festive card was an “ideal” way of introducing little Lillibet to the world.
He said: “It’s an ideal way of doing it through a Christmas card, because it emphasises the family.
“They obviously wanted to introduce baby Lilibet to the world at some point, and the Christmas card is an ideal way of doing it, because it’s very much happy families.”#
