Meghan Markle's Holiday Card with Her Husband and Children Sparks Public Controversy

What was meant to be a heartwarming glimpse into the Sussexes' Christmas spirit has ignited a social media firestorm — with Meghan once again caught in the crosshairs of royal critics.

The Duchess of Sussex attempted to spread some holiday cheer on Friday, 19 December, posting a sweet Christmas card on Instagram featuring her family — but instead of festive goodwill, the post sparked an avalanche of criticism and conspiracy theories.

Set in a lush garden with sunlight filtering through the trees, the photo shows Meghan and Prince Harry standing on a quaint wooden bridge with their two children. Harry is seen cradling son Prince Louis's face with a tender smile, while Meghan leans toward daughter Princess Lilibet, holding her hands affectionately.

"Happy Holidays! From our family to yours," the caption read.

But what should have been a touching holiday moment quickly turned sour as critics honed in on one detail: Lilibet's hair. Within minutes of the post going live, social media lit up with pointed comments aimed at the toddler's hair.

"Brush that child's hair," one netizen snapped. "Why does the little girl's hair always look so unkempt!" another chimed in. "Those poor kids, why do they always look so scruffy😔 Actually they all look scruffy in this pic!" a third echoed.

The backlash didn't stop there.

One critic took aim at Meghan's fashion, accusing her of vanity in the family shot, "Meghan approved see thru dress." Others questioned the authenticity of the entire photo, accusing the couple of doctoring the image.

"The photoshop on Harry's head!!!! 😂" one netizen wrote, while another alleged, "Something strange about this picture. It's AI."

The photo controversy couldn't have come at a worse time. Just days after the card was posted, Page Six reported that Harry and Meghan's charity was quietly unraveling behind the scenes.

According to insiders, the couple's Archewell Foundation has been reduced to just two employees, with 60 percent of the staff — three members — let go ahead of its upcoming rebrand as Archewell Philanthropies.

"Harry and Meghan have been forced to downsize the staff as it was costing them so much," a source told the outlet. The report claims the pair spent months debating the charity's viability and even considered closing it down entirely or handing it off to another organization.

"The big question was, would Archewell close, or would another charity take it over?" the insider added. "Harry and Meghan were looking to get a fiscal sponsor, someone to take on the outgoing costs and to keep things cheap. Really, it's all smoke and mirrors."

Although the Sussexes have attempted to paint the rebrand as a step toward "flexibility," sources remain deeply skeptical about the charity's financial health.

"If they're shooting out grants, then that's a net loss and they're not bringing in that much money," said one source, referencing the £1 million in grants handed out in 2024.

Public records also reveal that Archewell's expenses have surged while donations have dropped — a troubling trend for an organization once hailed as the Sussexes' flagship project post-royal life.

A spokesperson for the couple insisted, "Currently, the same full team remain in place. This move does mean that some staff redundancies are inevitable, particularly with junior admin roles."

Still, the stark contrast between the public messaging and internal downsizing has left critics accusing the couple of yet another PR smoke screen.

Despite the onslaught of negativity, however, Meghan hasn't gone quiet. She followed up her Christmas card with a new Instagram post on Monday, 22 December, sharing her favorite holiday songs. The update came hot on the heels of her recently released holiday special for her Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan."

But even that project hasn't escaped controversy.

Ahead of the special's release, Meghan came under fire once again — this time for the luxury designer dress she wore in the teaser, spotted by eagle-eyed viewers.

The green one-shoulder Galvan gown, which briefly appears as the Duchess of Sussex lights candles on a holiday table, appears to be the same £1,300 "Ushuaia" dress she wore in a 2022 Variety photo shoot.

What may have started as a festive plug for the lifestyle show instead sparked renewed debate online, with some accusing the Duchess of having taken the designer piece without authorisation following the photo shoot titled "The Meghan Moment."

Industry insiders, however, have pushed back on the criticism, pointing to standard fashion shoot practices.

A spokesperson for Meghan categorically denied the accusations, stating, "The insinuation that any items were taken without the full knowledge and agreement of the on-set stylists or their respective teams is not only categorically false but also highly defamatory."

"Any items kept were done so in total transparency and in accordance with contractual arrangements," they continued. Despite this, speculation continues. According to The Royalist newsletter by journalist Tom Sykes, one stylist with experience working with the royal family said:

"It's pretty clear she just wanted the dress and kept it. I'm sure the designer agreed. How could they not? What's interesting is that she doesn't say she paid for it. From that, I think we can assume she didn't. That's the defence [Princess] Catherine always has — everything is paid for."

The conversation has been fuelled further by past commentary. In a 2024 episode of the "Heretics" podcast, Vanity Fair journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis claimed that Meghan had previously taken "a lot of stuff" after stepping down as a working royal, saying she "worn it in a very high-profile photo shoot."

Grigoriadis went on to suggest that the most surprising aspect was that someone living in a "$15 million-plus mansion" with "$100 million deals" would "care enough to take home some jewellery and clothes she can clearly afford."

Industry insiders, however, have pushed back on the criticism, pointing to standard fashion shoot practices. It is not uncommon for public figures to retain wardrobe items from editorial projects, often for security reasons, including the risk of resale or unauthorised auctions.

Some netizens went further, alleging an attempted cover-up.

In the past, royal protocol prohibited working royals from accepting clothes for free, though garments could be loaned and later returned. Before her wedding in 2018, Meghan reportedly paid for her own clothes, with her wardrobe later funded by then–Prince Charles for official duties.

Still, the online reaction has been swift — and divided. Some defended the Duchess. One person commented, "Meghan does not permission, If she wants it she gets it [sic]," appearing to suggest Meghan's influence renders permission a non-issue.

Others, however, were far more critical. "Taking property...an etiquette issue. No. It's stealing," typed one commenter, clearly rejecting the notion that the situation could be reduced to a misunderstanding in protocol.

Another questioned why such an issue should arise at all, given the Duchess's wealth. "With all her money why doesn't she just buy it?" they remarked.

Suspicion over the lack of clarity surrounding the dress's status was also echoed in a separate comment that read, "If this much explaining is needed...she definitely took it without asking."

Some netizens went further, alleging an attempted cover-up. One netizen remarked, "Old Megs team is trying to make this story disappear..." followed by a laughing emoji.

As Meghan Markle continues to press ahead with new projects and public appearances, the court of online opinion remains unforgiving — proving once again that for the Sussexes, even the holidays rarely come without controversy.