Skip to main contentSkip to footer
Meghan Markle wearing blue dress and smiling© Getty

Meghan Markle’s unexpected Thanksgiving guests at Montecito mansion revealed

The Sussexes have lived in the US since 2020

Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
November 25, 2024
Share this:

The Duchess of Sussex has opened up about her family's "low-key" Thanksgiving plans, including the unexpected guests she always makes space for. 

Meghan and Prince Harry have celebrated the holidays for the past few years at their home in Montecito, California with their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

The Duchess' mother Doria Ragland is usually included in the festivities but Meghan revealed the other special guests who receive an invitation.

In an interview with Marie Claire, the Duchess shared: "I was thinking about, in the past few years of having Thanksgiving here, like many of us, I think you always make sure there's room at the table for your friends who don't have family, which is really key."

Meghan also revealed that Gloria Steinem "came for Thanksgiving" one year. The Duchess and the activist have previously teamed up to talk about the importance of voting and women's rights.

Talking about what the family likes to do on Thanksgiving, which falls on 28 November this year, Meghan added: "We're always making sure we have something fun 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."

Teresa Younger, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, and Gloria Steinem attend the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards© Gety
Meghan with Teresa Younger and Gloria Steinem (right) at the Women of Vision Awards in 2023

The Sussexes, who stepped back as senior royals in 2020, have their own family traditions during the festive season, with Archie and Lilibet leaving out "carrots for the reindeer" on Christmas eve.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet© Netflix
Harry and Meghan will celebrate Thanksgiving at their Montecito home with Archie and Lilibet

Meghan opened up about her love of the holidays as she joined a dinner hosted by Mina's List, an organisation that's part of the Archewell Foundation's Welcome Project. The initiative, which was launched last year, supports women who have resettled in the United States from Afghanistan.

Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: See the giant Christmas tree at Harry and Meghan's home

Meghan's love for the holidays

The Duchess has always been a self-confessed foodie and would regularly share recipes on her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig.

meghan markle turkey© Instagram
Meghan with her Thanksgiving turkey in her pre-royal days

Her dishes for Thanksgiving included oven roasted chicken breast with mushroom and leek gravy and side dishes of roasted acorn squash wedge salad and almond butter bites.

She also revealed how her parents would help others in need during the holidays, writing: "Both my parents came from little, so they made a choice to give a lot – buying turkeys for homeless shelters at Thanksgiving, delivering meals to patients in hospice care, donating any spare change in their pocket to those asking for it, and performing quiet acts of grace."

LISTEN: Earthshot, Remembrance and Camilla's big TV moment

ROYAL FAN? JOIN THE CLUB

Welcome to The HELLO! Royal Club, where thousands of royal fans like you get to delve deeper into the wonderful world of royalty every day. Want to join them? Just click the button below for a list of club benefits and joining information.

COMING UP...

  • The Royal Wardrobe festive special
  • The most extravagant royal Christmas ever

Sign up to HELLO! Daily for all the latest and best royal coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More Royalty

See more