Royal wisdom! An article written by Meghan Markle about hosting Christmas with pals has resurfaced and her tips could provide some clues about how she plans to spend the upcoming holiday — her first since stepping down from her senior role within the royal family.
In the roundup, which first appeared in Grazia in 2015, the 39-year-old Suits alum discussed everything from festive tablescapes to flavorful Christmas cocktails. She even aptly titled the piece, “My Guide To Hosting The Perfect Christmas With Friends.”
So what does the former actress recommend? For starters, she’s a fan of apropos decor … with a twist. For Christmas, that means livening up a space with garland or magnolia branches. However, instead of decorating standard areas such as a banister or mantle, Meghan advocated placing these festive props around a mirror or a piece of artwork. We’re guessing she’ll have plenty of surfaces to choose from in her new California home, where she moved with her husband, Prince Harry, earlier this year.
In terms of the festive feast, Meghan shared both food and drink suggestions. Her libation of choice was something she dubbed an “Almond Milk Spiced Holiday Cocktail.” The eight-ingredient recipe includes almond milk (which Meghan noted can be made at home), any array of spices and, of course, “your favorite bourbon.”
When hosting Christmas with pals, the California native suggested having “each of your friends bring a dish or cook together in the kitchen.” Though it’s unlikely that Meghan will continue this tradition now, she and Harry, 36, will be celebrating Christmas differently from the rest of the royal family this year. While a source told Us Weekly in September that the royal couple was “eager to get back” to the U.K. to see their loved ones, the reunion may have to wait until next year.
“There’s a lot of tradition surrounding the holidays with his family, and they both have really loved that in the past,” the source said at the time. “With the uncertainty of COVID, they have been taking it one day at a time and are hopeful that they can all go back together and spend it as a family.”
Two months later, it seemed as though the pair’s plans had changed. “Everyone was so looking forward to catching up with them, as well as Archie,” an insider exclusively revealed in November after news broke that Meghan and her husband would be staying put for Christmas. “They’re looking forward to making the most of things regardless.”
For the 2019 holiday season, Meghan and Harry opted to spend Christmas in Canada instead of across the pond. Though Buckingham Palace’s official statement regarding Harry and Meghan’s holiday plans noted that the duo have “the support of Her Majesty the Queen,” a separate source told Us at the time the monarch was “disappointed” by the pair’s choice to spend the holiday away from Harry’s relatives.
Scroll down to see more of Meghan’s best holiday tips!