Prince Harry's 'Stealthy' Christmas Gesture: Rebel Duke Gifted Royal Ornaments to Staff Only Moments Before Making Bombshell 'Megxit' Announcement
In a dramatic and rather unexpected prelude to one of the most talked-about royal departures in recent history, Prince Harry took a moment to surprise his staff with Christmas gifts just minutes before announcing his and Meghan Markle's decision to step down from their roles as senior members of the royal family.
The details, shared in Harry's 2023 memoir Spare, paint a picture of a bittersweet final interaction with his team, as the couple prepared to drop the bombshell that would change the course of their lives — and the monarchy — forever.
On January 8, 2020, as the royal world was still buzzing with festive cheer, Harry and Meghan, along with two senior staff members, were locked away in a Buckingham Palace room, finalizing a carefully crafted statement that would soon be posted on Instagram. Queen Elizabeth II, select family members and her court were all based at Sandringham in Norfolk at the time.
But before they hit "send" on the historic announcement, Harry decided to spread a bit of holiday spirit. Despite it being well past Christmas, he found himself near the main stateroom, where a Christmas tree still stood, and picked out two soft corgi ornaments as gifts for the staffers — a small but meaningful gesture of appreciation.
The statement that followed was nothing short of revolutionary in the modern era of the British monarchy. It read, "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution."
Harry and Meghan went on to declare their intention to step back from their senior royal duties and pursue financial independence, all while continuing to support the Queen and their royal responsibilities. "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America," they wrote, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the family, with the promise of maintaining their royal ties while creating a fresh, independent path.
This moment, juxtaposed with the festive gift-giving, was charged with symbolism. The ornaments, with their "cheery corgi design," marked an end to an era while hinting at the couple’s desire to forge their own future.
Since then, their relationship with the royal family has remained strained, with Harry and Meghan continuing to voice their grievances against the institution that once defined their lives.
The soft corgi ornaments, now a quirky relic of a royal moment, serve as a reminder for many royal analysts of the dramatic turn of events that followed their departure from the Firm.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not spent Christmas with the royals since 2018.
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Daily Express reported on Harry's book.
