Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet appeared in a new photograph released by their parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their 2024 Christmas card.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be accompanied by their children at a big event next year (Image: Archewell and Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a major move with their Christmas card this year as they decided to include a picture of their two rarely-seen children.

The ‘Happy Holidays’ card, which consisted of six photographs, was quick to grab the attention of royal fans as one of these sweet pictures included the young Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, as they ran to embrace their parents.

While the photograph just showed the backs of the children, it signals a major move for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who were adamant their children would be kept out of the spotlight for their own safety.

The decision to include the children in this year’s Christmas card also comes just months before a global event which could see Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet take to the stage with their parents for the first time ever.

Although unconfirmed by Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, a source exclusively revealed to Express.co.uk this year that the two children could attend the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Vancouver next year.

The event, set to take place on February 8, could see contestants taking part bring along their families and young children in an attempt to make the day a “family focused” event.

The source previously said: “Harry and Meghan are planning to take Archie and Lilibet to help promote a new ‘family-friendly’ Invictus Games.

“The Sussexes have been very involved with the organisational elements of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler events and it was very much their idea to make this a family-friendly games so that those taking part can bring their children along.”

If the children do attend the event in February, this would be the first for the couple who have often kept both Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet out of the spotlight, especially since quitting life as senior royals in 2020 and moving across the pond to Montecito, California.

The couple have never before taken their children with them to the Invictus Games

Just months ago, a friend of the duke told People magazine: “Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats.

“He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.”

Prince Harry has also spoken out recently about how grateful he is to be raising his children away from the pressures he would have in the UK if he were to have remained a senior royal.

At The New York Times DealBook Online Summit on December 4, Harry said: “I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here. To be able to do the things I’m able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the UK — it’s huge. That is a fantastic opportunity and I’m hugely grateful for that.”