Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have once again made headlines with their holiday card. This year, they featured their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet for the first time in years, along with five other photos filled with significance. Let's delve into the details of this captivating card and the couple's endeavors.

Surprise in the Collage

On December 16th, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sent out a season's greetings card. It featured a collage-style design on a deep green background with six pictures. Among them, an unexpected image of their son Prince Archie, 5, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 3, was included. The outdoor snap showed the children excitedly running towards their parents with open arms. Prince Harry and Meghan looked at them with love, and their three dogs were at their feet. This was a rare sight as the couple is raising their children out of the limelight in Montecito, California.

Previous Holiday Greetings

Although the Sussexes have sent pictures with their kids in the past, it had been a while since 2021. In 2022, Archie and Lilibet were briefly seen in some scenes of their parents' docuseries Harry & Meghan on Netflix. Now, two years later, they looked more grown up, with Archie and Lilibet taller and Lilibet's hair long. This aligns with Harry's desire to protect their privacy and safety.

Conscientious Decision

A friend of the couple told PEOPLE that Harry is reluctant to show his children publicly not to hide them but to safeguard their privacy. As a dad and husband, he is determined to ensure history doesn't repeat itself, referring to Princess Diana's fate. This careful approach is evident in the holiday card.

Family and Professional Cards

This year, the couple spread cheer by including their kids in the holiday card for professional use. However, they also sent a separate, private card to close friends and family, which will not be made public. It shows their thoughtfulness in sharing different aspects of their lives.

Trips and Philanthropy

The other five pictures in the multi-photo card were from their trips to Nigeria in May and Colombia in August. In Colombia, Meghan was seen hugging a young student at Colegio La Giralda, and Harry kissed her head at the National Centre for the Arts in Bogotá. They also visited San Basilio de Palenque, established as the first free African town. In Nigeria, Prince Harry held hands with a wounded soldier at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna, reminiscent of Princess Diana's warmth. The couple also shared a laugh at Lightway Academy in Abuja during their first official international tour since 2020. Their school visit coincided with the expansion of their charitable work.

Importance of Direct Connection

Prince Harry emphasized the importance of meeting people directly to support their causes and bring about positive change. He said, "It is hugely important for us to meet directly with people, supporting our causes and listening, in order to bring about solutions, support and positive change. There's only so much one can do from home and over Zoom, so we look forward to traveling more because the work matters."Looking ahead, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited about more travel for their core work, continuing to make a difference through their philanthropy.