The Queen Doesn't Have a Picture of Harry, Meghan, or Archie on Her Desk for Her Yearly Address
In the annual recording of Queen Elizabeth's Christmas message, an accompanying photo of the Queen at her desk had no picture of Harry, Meghan, or their son Archie.


- In a preview of the annual recording of Queen Elizabeth's Christmas message, an accompanying photo of the Queen at her desk had no picture of Harry, Meghan, or their son Archie.
- There could be a number of reasons for this, but fans were worried it was a snub.
- This, after reports that the Royal Family is disappointed in the couple and the Queen won't talk about them in interviews.
Well this is intriguing. We just got a preview of Queen Elizabeth's annual Christmas address, and fans immediately noted a conspicuous absence from the framed photos on her desk this year: There's no Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, or Archie Harrison.
Fans were quick to point out that every family member included this year is in the line of succession: Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their family. The Queen's father King George, giving his own address. Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. And lastly, Prince Philip, who just came home from the hospital in time for Christmas. But, in reaction to that, others noted that last year included photos from Meghan and Harry's wedding, as well as Eugenie's wedding and a huge family photo (from Charles' 70th birthday).
Of course, let's just put this out there right now: The Queen is allowed to do things however she chooses. In 2017, for living family members, she just had a photo of her two grandchildren at the time, Charlotte and George, as well as Philip. In 2016 she had a photo of Philip, and a photo of Charles and herself. It changes every single year, probably to avoid this exact challenge. It's just that the timing is a bit crummy. Plus, Archie was born earlier this year, so the absence feels a bit confusing. BUT, with all that said, the Queen's message this year centered around this being a "bumpy" time and "small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding." So if one might read into anything, it's the vision of a strong monarchy in times of struggle, perhaps.
Also, as royal reporter Elizabeth Holmes noted in her Instagram Stories, the picture is taken in the Green Drawing Room of Windsor Castle, which is where Harry and Meghan's wedding and christening photos were taken—so that might be a very subtle shoutout to the Sussexes?
For reference, this is last year's:
I...don't know how to feel, TBH.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.
Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.
-
Meghan Markle and Her Makeup Artist Confirmed All Her Royal Wedding Beauty Products
And yes, you can shop them all here.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Prince George Had a Six-Word Message for Prince William to Pass Along to a TV Star During a Recent Royal Engagement
The 11-year-old called the star of a popular U.K. series out.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Chase Sui Wonders Channels ‘90s Nostalgia at 'The Studio' Premiere
At 'The Studio' premiere, she channeled Gwyneth Paltrow’s '90s-era style with an archival Prada print once worn by the star.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
Meghan Markle and Her Makeup Artist Confirmed All Her Royal Wedding Beauty Products
And yes, you can shop them all here.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Why Prince Harry Is So "Torn Apart" Over Resigning From His Charity
The Duke of Sussex co-founded Sentebale in honor of his mother in 2006.
By Lia Beck Published
-
Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow Open Up About Their "Rift" Over Pie
Expect a Goop x As Ever collab in three… two..
By Lia Beck Published
-
Meghan Markle Confirms Skinny Jeans Are Back by Finally Revealing Her Favorite Frame Denim
It's never been easier to dress like a duchess.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
New Prince Archie Photo Proves He Takes After Dad Prince Harry in Two Very Important Ways
Father and son have much more in common than their vibrant red hair.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle Shared a Rare Video Filmed by Prince Harry on Instagram
And she used her nickname for him in the shoutout she wrote in the video's caption.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Why Prince William Decided to Eliminate Queen Elizabeth's "No Selfies" Rule Completely
The Prince of Wales has shattered royal protocol when it comes to taking pictures with fans.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle Sent a Handwritten Note to a Podcaster Who Said She Was "Scared" for the Royal Before Her Netflix Show Premiered
Mailing a handwritten note to reply to an Instagram comment might be the most Meghan Markle thing of all time.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published