Meghan Markle keeps one royal Christmas tradition alive in California

Meghan Markle is bringing a touch of Britain to her California holidays. In her new Netflix special With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, the Duchess of Sussex reveals the royal-favourite festive ritual she still cherishes: making Christmas crackers.

The one-hour special, which dropped on 3 December, sees Meghan inviting friends into her Montecito home to share hosting tips, seasonal traditions and a few DIY ideas. During one segment, she sits with restaurateur Will Guidara to handcraft her own crackers, a staple of British Christmas tables.

Christmas crackers are cardboard tubes wrapped in bright paper that “snap” when pulled, revealing a small treat, joke or paper crown. Meghan says the tradition reminds her of her time in the UK and the sense of togetherness it brings.

“People sit around the table, cross their arms and everyone pulls at the same time. It feels really connected and really sweet,” she tells Guidara. She adds that her introduction to crackers was through the tiny jokes, riddles and sweets tucked inside.

Meghan experienced two Christmases with the royal family at Sandringham, in 2017 and 2018. Crackers have long been part of the royal holiday table, supplied every year by British manufacturer Tom Smith, which has held a royal warrant since 1906.

For her own family, Meghan adds personal touches to each cracker. Prince Harry’s includes a love note, chocolate and a paper hat. Archie, six, gets one themed around his favourite things, including the colour red. For Lilibet, four, Meghan includes a lavender roller ball because “Lili really likes trying to be a grown-up lady at the moment”.

Elsewhere in the special, Meghan visits a Christmas tree farm, makes sweet treats for guests, demonstrates DIY gift wrapping and shares new holiday traditions she is creating with her family. Harry also appears briefly, helping himself to festive snacks before giving Meghan a kiss in the kitchen.

The special arrives alongside the first holiday collection from Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As ever, which features sparkling wines, candles, fruit spreads and California honey. Several of the items appear in the Netflix episode as part of her hosting set-up.

With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration is now streaming on Netflix.