Prince Harry's cameo on With Love, Meghan holiday special as he jokingly 'insults' duchess' cooking
The Duchess of Sussex's holiday special premiered today
Prince Harry made a surprise appearance in With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, stealing the spotlight with a playful dig at his wife’s cooking.
The Duchess of Sussex’s new holiday special, which premiered on December 3, offers a glimpse into her festive traditions and lifestyle tips.
But it’s her husband’s unscripted cameo at the end of the 56-minute episode that left viewers smiling, especially as he jokingly compared Meghan’s cooking to that of her mother, Doria Ragland.
Prince Harry makes cameo in With Love, Meghan
As Meghan prepared her mother’s famous Christmas Eve gumbo alongside Top Chef star Tom Colicchio, Harry strolled into the kitchen, led by his nose.
“Hi guys, I smelled gumbo,” he announced, before giving Meghan a kiss.
The brief moment marks the first time the couple have appeared on-screen together since the first season of the lifestyle show.
Earlier in the episode, Meghan opened up about the family tradition.
“My mum’s family is from Tennessee,” she shared. “My mum has been making gumbo for Christmas Eve for years now. It’s a once-a-year thing that she does, so we’re going to make some gumbo.”
Harry, clearly a fan of the dish, gushed: “Gumbo is one of my favourites. Especially her mum’s. But before the fish goes in.”
Meghan laughed and explained that Doria always sets aside a portion just for Harry, customised to his taste.
But when he tried Meghan’s spicier version, the Duke of Sussex joked: “I can feel it puncturing through the top of my head!”
After a hearty taste, he turned to Meghan and said: “It’s delicious. I’m not so sure it’s as good as your mum’s, but it’s certainly close.”
Meghan turned around from the stove in shock. “What?! Oh my gosh,” she gasped. “My mum will love you for that. What a good thing to say for your mother-in-law.”
With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration on Netflix
The teasing didn’t end with gumbo. Later, Colicchio presented a bold salad made with fennel, beets, olives, anchovies, and pickled vegetables.
Meghan immediately confessed: “If I gave you the top things my husband hates to eat, they’re all in here.”
Sure enough, when Harry saw it, he declared: “That’s like the anti-salad.”
While Doria doesn’t appear in the episode, her presence is felt deeply, especially during the gumbo scene. Meghan’s reflections on her mother’s Southern roots and family recipes are some of the most intimate moments of the special.
Also absent from the show are Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Although they don’t appear on camera, Meghan makes several references to her family life as she shares tips on Christmas crafts, cooking, gift-giving, and hosting.
There’s even a touching tribute to another beloved family member, Meghan’s rescue beagle, Guy.
The dog makes a quiet, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance, padding through the Montecito house. Later, an ornament dedicated to him is shown hanging on the tree.
Guy passed away in late 2024, shortly after filming wrapped. Meghan revealed in January that she had “cried too many tears to count” following his death.
The With Love, Meghan holiday edition caps off a major year for the duchess. In 2025 alone, she launched her As Ever lifestyle brand, revived her Instagram presence, and released two seasons of her lifestyle series on Netflix.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has been keeping busy as well, recently making his third trip of the year to Canada. On December 1, just days before the With Love premiere, Harry spoke at the OREA Powerhouse Conference in Toronto.
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