Last year was a was a fraught 12 months for the Sussexes, but they have resolved to look back at all the things that brought them joy and shared it in a heartfelt New Year video message to fans and friends all over the world. The collage of still and moving images, set aptly to music from Coldplay’s Clocks was captioned ‘Looking back at 2019’. In the message released on @SussexRoyal, their official instagram feed, Prince Harry can be seen cradling the couple’s baby Archie against the backdrop of deep blue waters.
The brief message signed by the royal couple stated:“Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and thanking you for your continued support! We’ve loved meeting so many of you from around the world and can’t wait to meet many more of you next year. We hope 2020 brings each of you health and continued happiness.” The couple have not joined the Queen and other members of the royal family at their traditional Christmas Day gathering at Sandringham, preferring to spend the festive holidays in Canada with their baby and the duchess’ mother Doria Ragland.
The Sussexes have faced scathing media coverage throughout the year: From negative tabloid coverage of former US actress Meghan Markle, controversy over the carbon footprint of the globetrotting Sussexes, media blackout at the christening of baby Archie, rumoured rift with the Cambridges to renovation of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor and the recent decision to spend Christmas away from home.
Prince Harry released an unprecedented letter detailing a catalogue of tabloid transgressions which culminated in a lawsuit against the Mail on Sunday for publishing a private letter written by the duchess to her father. The couple have even been rumoured to be considering relinquishing royal duties with a move away from the United Kingdom. But as a new decade dawns, they have revealed very little about their future plans beyond “looking forward to 2020”, and wishing the world a happy new year.
