Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared a “peaceful” Christmas in Canada before their bitter royal exit just weeks later.

The couple – who welcomed Prince Archie in May 2019 – spent their son’s first Christmas tucked away in a Vancouver Island hideaway.

Just weeks later, Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step down as senior working royals – before permanently moving to the US shortly after.

Footage captured from Archie’s first Christmas was shown in the couple’s Netflix docuseries, which aired in late 2022.

The sweet footage included Meghan pulling Archie, who was around seven months old at the time, through the snow in a red sled.

Keeping themselves warm, Meghan was dressed in a chic parka paired with a warm hat and brown boots. Archie looked cosy sporting a warm snowsuit.

The Duchess of Sussex, who officially joined the Royal Family in 2018, discussed the their first Christmas as a family of three. She said: “I just loved being there. It was just so peaceful. You could breathe for a minute.”

Meghan, who also gave birth to their daughter in 2021, recently spoke of her love of the festive season in an interview with Marie Claire.

As well as stating her love for Christmas, Meghan shared that it it even better now that she can share the day with Archie and Lilibet, now aged five and three.

She told the publication: “At first, I think as a mom with children you’re just enjoying having them there, but they’re not understanding everything that’s happening yet.

“But now we’re at the age where I just can’t wait to see it through their lens every year.”

Sharing how they spend Christmas Day, she added: “Like any other family you spend time having a great meal and then what do you do? Play games, all the same stuff.”