Despite the smiles on their family Christmas card, professionally, the year has ended on something of a dud note for the Sussexes, with Prince Harry’s Netflix docuseries, Polo, delving into the elite ‘sport of kings’, roundly panned by critics. At least Meghan has some distance from the project, thanks to the Sussexes’ new PR strategy, dubbed a ‘professional separation’ by royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.

The new tactic sees them focus on individual projects and undertake more solo engagements. Indeed, following their quasi-royal tour in Colombia this summer, Harry and Meghan have only appeared together in public once, with the exception of a joint video they sent to the United Nations’ conference in Colombia in November calling for the end to violence against children. The Sussexes have otherwise been forging their own paths.

Unsurprisingly, the decision to separate their professional pursuits in recent months has been met with speculation about the state of their marriage. Harry addressed the issue head-on during an interview at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York earlier this month. ‘Apparently, we’ve bought or moved house 10, 12 times,’ he joked when host Andrew Sorkin asked him about the rumours. ‘We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So, it’s just like “What?” It’s hard to keep up with, but that’s why you just sort of ignore it.’

In many ways, the Sussexes are in a lose- lose situation when it comes to publicity – either accused of being too visible or on the brink of separation. Eight years into their relationship, they seem emboldened to dismiss the speculation and continue experimenting with their public images.

They will spend Christmas at home in Montecito with their two children, Archie and Lilibet (the couple have not spent the festive period in the UK since 2018), and have reportedly extended the invite to Princess Eugenie, her husband Jack Brooksbank and their two children, August and Ernest.

Prince William and Kate, for their part, will be spending Christmas as usual in Sandringham, and are said to be looking forward to spending time with the rest of the Royal Family according to royal sources. It comes after the couple opted to skip the traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, a private event for senior royals. However, they did post a sweet Christmas message to followers online, a card with a picture of them and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – in Norfolk.

Kate is said to be working behind the scenes to improve relations between William and Harry, her Christmas speech dubbed a signal of hope as she spoke of the importance of forgiveness. ‘It has always been Catherine who has gently tried to soften William’s very hard stance against his younger brother,’ a royal source said. ‘She values family above all else – her children, husband and Middleton family have been the rock that has got her through this extremely tough year. Harry is William’s only brother and despite everything that has been said and done, she believes that blood is thicker than water.’

We’re unlikely to see a Christmas reunion between the brothers of course, with the families spending the festive season on opposite ends of the world. As for New Year’s Eve, unless Harry and Meghan are spotted partying with the Hollywood set, the next time we can expect to see them together is at the Invictus Games, which take place in Canada in February. They are reportedly planning to bring their children along too, which would be the first time the Sussex family have been seen all together in public since 2022 – a moment that will be all the more buzzworthy post the professional separation. Perhaps, then, this new PR strategy has legs.

With the official launch of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, set for ‘early 2025’, Meghan will want to ensure her public image is on solid footing. ‘It’s going to be a good year for Meghan specifically,’ a source told Page Six. She has reportedly been working hard behind the scenes following a series of trademarking issues – including a protest lodged with the Patent and Trademark Office from a company that owns the trademark Royal Riviera – and plans to launch ARO in tandem with her as- yet-untitled Netflix series, which is said to focus on Meghan’s interests including cooking, gardening and entertaining. Given the popularity of her old lifestyle blog The Tig, the much-anticipated ARO could be the success story the Sussexes are waiting for.