Meghan Markle Shares a UK Christmas Tradition — But Gets One Key Detail Wrong
Meghan Markle’s return to festive storytelling on Netflix is wrapped in warmth and goodwill, but when she turns her attention to a classic British Christmas tradition, she slightly missed the mark. In With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, the Duchess of Sussex introduces viewers to the ritual of Christmas crackers, a staple of U.K. holiday tables. Yet, in her attempt to personalize the situation, she rewrote one of the basic rules.
The segment begins as Markle decides to make her own Christmas crackers for her family, choosing the gifts, jokes, and surprises that go inside the familiar rolled cardboard tubes wrapped in festive paper. Even though the enthusiasm was palpable, what she missed might raise a few eyebrows in Britain. Traditionally, Christmas crackers are bought ready-made and pulled between two people at the table, with the contents, a paper crown, a groan-worthy joke, and a small novelty gift, randomly “won” by whoever ends up holding the larger half. That element of chance is part of the fun. Markle, however, takes a different route. She carefully tailors each cracker for a specific person, placing chosen gifts inside based on who she believes will receive them.
Markle also reveals that she is unapologetically fond of the ritual. “I love Christmas crackers,” she says. “The toy, not the kind you eat. And I thought [about] filling them with things rather than just random tchotchkes. Think about who’s getting them. What do you want to put inside? Even a sweet little love letter, a little note tucked in.”
Her guest for the segment, restaurateur Will Guidara, is curious about her connection to the practice, asking, “Have you been doing them a long time?” to which she very excitedly explains, “Living in the U.K., it’s just such a big part of…” she begins, before Guidara fills in the blank: “Is it a big part of the culture there?” “For Christmas holidays for sure.”
She adds, “Typically, people cross arms and do it. So you’re around the table, and they all pull at the same time… It actually does feel really connective and sweet.” She goes on to describe the traditional contents as “almost a fortune cookie-sized joke or riddle and something sweet,” a small slip in itself, as crackers almost always contain a small toy rather than edible treats.
Harry’s cracker contains a love letter, chocolate, and a paper crown. Archie holds a toy burger. Markle even adds confetti. The same theme runs through another festive ritual she shares, handmade Advent calendars for her children. Instead of chocolates, Markle fills Archie and Lilibet’s calendars with handwritten notes explaining why she loves them.
Similarly, another key moment that steals the spotlight is just how close-knit the family is. Harry warmly praises his mother-in-law, saying, “Gumbo for me is one of my favorites, especially her mum’s, but before the fish goes in.” And later, after tasting Markle’s version, he adds, “I’m not so sure it’s as good as your mum’s, but it’s certainly close.”