On April 5, 2026, the world was treated to a rare peek into the private life of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as they celebrated Easter with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, at their home in Montecito, California. Through a series of Instagram videos, the Duchess of Sussex offered a warm, candid look at how the Sussex family marked the holiday, blending classic Easter traditions with their own relaxed California style.
Meghan’s Instagram post, simply captioned “Happy Easter!”, featured Princess Lilibet, now four, skipping through the garden with bunny ears perched atop her head and a plush rabbit clutched in her arms. Prince Archie, age six, was caught in a close-up moment of concentration as he decorated an egg using a dinosaur-themed spinning device, aptly named “The Dinomazing Egg Decorator.” The siblings were also seen racing across the lawn with baskets in hand, their laughter and excitement a testament to the simple joys of a holiday spent together as a family. According to People, the children’s baskets brimmed with treats and trinkets, and even the family’s chickens joined in the festivities, receiving a fresh lettuce treat.
In one particularly sweet video, Lilibet—dressed in a pink floral-print dress that, as The Telegraph noted, retails for $24.99—walked barefoot on the grass, her long red hair shining in the California sun. The sound of birdsong filled the background, adding to the idyllic scene. Meghan herself is seen searching for eggs in the chicken coop, a playful nod to the family’s love of animals and the outdoors.
The decision to share these moments was met with delight by royal watchers and fans alike, who have grown accustomed to the Sussexes’ careful approach to privacy. As has become standard, both Archie and Lilibet’s faces are largely hidden in the clips—either filmed from behind or at an angle. Still, their personalities shine through: Archie’s focus on his egg-decorating project, Lilibet’s exuberance as she hunts for eggs, and the family’s dog trotting alongside them in the garden.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the royal family in England gathered for their own Easter traditions. Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended the annual Easter Matins service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, accompanied by their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. This marked the first time in two years the Wales family attended the event together, as Catherine had missed previous outings while undergoing cancer treatment. According to BBC, the Waleses led a procession to the chapel, with Prince William waving to the crowds gathered outside—an appearance that carried special significance given Catherine’s recent health challenges.
The contrast between the two branches of the royal family could not have been more apparent. While the Waleses took part in the formal, public-facing traditions of the monarchy, the Sussexes opted for a quieter, more intimate celebration thousands of miles away. The families did not appear to have any public communication or joint celebration, a continuation of the distance that has characterized their relationship since Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California. As Parade reported, the bond between Prince Harry and Prince William has remained strained, with speculation ongoing about whether reconciliation is possible in the future.
Despite the geographic and emotional distance, both families seemed intent on creating meaningful holiday memories for their children. For the Sussexes, this meant embracing the ordinary joys of childhood—egg hunts, crafts, and time outdoors—while shielding their kids from the relentless spotlight that once followed them in the UK. The videos Meghan shared were a reminder of how much has changed since her days as a working royal, but also of the universal threads that tie families together, no matter their circumstances.
Adding to the excitement, it was announced that Harry and Meghan will soon embark on a trip to Australia later in April 2026 for a series of private, business, and philanthropic engagements. According to a spokesperson cited by The Telegraph, Meghan will headline a women-only event in Sydney, while Harry is scheduled to speak at a mental health conference in Melbourne. Their children, Archie and Lilibet, will remain at home during this trip, echoing their parents’ previous official royal tour to Australia in 2018, just months after their wedding and shortly before Meghan’s pregnancy with Archie was announced. The upcoming visit is expected to be more low-key and focused on causes close to the couple’s hearts.
For Meghan, the decision to share her family’s Easter celebration comes after years of carefully curating the public’s access to her children. As People noted, she has never attended the royal family’s Easter church outing at Windsor, often due to personal circumstances—her pregnancy with Archie in 2019, for example, kept her away from the festivities that year. Prince Harry, on the other hand, has occasionally attended alone, as he did in 2019, but this year, he remained in California with his family.
The Sussexes’ approach to life in the United States has been marked by a desire for privacy and normalcy, punctuated by carefully chosen moments of public engagement. Their Easter videos—full of laughter, color, and the ordinary magic of childhood—offered a glimpse into the world they have built for themselves, far from the formalities of royal life but still very much rooted in tradition. The inclusion of their chickens and the family dog in the celebration underscored their commitment to a grounded, hands-on style of parenting.
As the Sussexes prepare for their upcoming Australian engagements, and the Wales family continues to navigate public life in the UK, both branches of the family seem focused on moving forward in their own ways. For royal fans, Meghan’s Easter post was a rare treat—a window into a family that, despite its fame, cherishes the same simple joys as any other.
Though the royal family’s Easter celebrations unfolded on separate continents and in very different styles, the holiday served as a quiet reminder that, at its heart, Easter is about renewal, togetherness, and hope for the future. Whether in the gardens of Montecito or the halls of Windsor Castle, those themes resonated—perhaps more powerfully than ever before.