The special holiday episode of Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan,” dedicated to Christmas traditions, took a completely unexpected—and spicy—turn. In the midst of filming in a cozy kitchen, as the Duchess of Sussex worked her magic on a family recipe, her husband, Prince Harry, made a sudden and unscripted entrance. His visit was clearly not planned, adding an element of genuine spontaneity—and, as it turned out, a touch of family drama.
Meghan decided to share something deeply personal with millions of viewers—a spiced gumbo recipe that her mother, Doria Ragland, traditionally prepares just once a year, on Christmas Eve, for the whole family. Apparently, the familiar aroma lured the prince from another part of their Montecito home onto the set. “I smelled the gumbo,” he announced with a wide grin as he entered, greeting his wife with a kiss and welcoming the show’s guest star, celebrity chef Tom Colicchio.
Harry didn’t hide his genuine affection for the dish, but promptly made a rather careless remark. “Gumbo is one of my absolute favorites,” he admitted enthusiastically. “Especially when her mom makes it—but before the fish goes in.” This line came before he’d even tasted Meghan’s own version. The Duchess, meanwhile, warned her husband that her take would be much spicier than what he was used to, jokingly offering him a towel—hinting he might seriously break a sweat.
After tasting just a single spoonful, the prince confirmed her words. “I can feel the top of my head about to blow off,” he joked, before giving a compliment that came across more like a critique. “This is delicious. Honestly, I’m not sure it’s quite as good as your mom’s, but it’s definitely close.” With an exaggerated look of amazement and her mouth comically agape, Meghan stared at her husband, prompting laughter from the entire crew. “My mom is going to adore you for that. Perfect line for a mother-in-law,” she retorted with irony, turning the awkward moment into a joke.
However, this amusing episode wasn’t the only moment that highlighted the couple’s family dynamics. Later in the show, Meghan fondly spoke about a distinctly British Christmas tradition—Christmas crackers. She explained to viewers in detail that these are an essential part of holiday celebrations in the UK, where she lived for several years after getting married. With a hint of nostalgia, the duchess recalled how everyone at the table crosses their arms and simultaneously pulls on each end of the cardboard toy, which contains a little surprise, a mandatory paper crown, and a joke inside.
Demonstrating how to make such a cracker by hand, Meghan crafted one especially for Harry with particular affection. Inside, she placed not only the traditional paper crown and chocolate treat, but also a “little love letter.” This touching gesture showed her care in thoughtfully weaving her husband’s traditions into their new life in California and giving them a personal, intimate meaning for their family, including their children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
For reference, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, stepped back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family in 2020. After this high-profile decision, they moved to the U.S., and now reside in Montecito, California, with their two children. The couple is actively involved in producing content, signing multimillion-dollar deals with giants such as Netflix and Spotify, and developing their own charity, the Archewell Foundation.
