Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have urged their Instagram followers to reflect on the ‘lonely, hungry and homeless’ this Christmas as they post photos from charitable accounts inspired by the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’.
The heartfelt message to their 9.9million followers contains the American phrase ‘festive holiday season’, which could suggest that the Duchess of Sussex wrote the post herself.
Homelessness charities Shelter, the Salvation Army and the Los Angeles Mission were all included in the list.
It comes as the couple continue their six-week break from royal duties, and sparked rumours on Wednesday that they may be in Canada when they uploaded a post containing a maple leaf emoji.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry uploaded the heartfelt post dedicated to twelve charities. The American phrase ‘festive holiday season’ at the start could suggest that the Duchess of Sussex penned the note herself
The royal couple called on their 9.9million followers to think about others at this time of year
Their Instagram post, which contains pictures of charity workers from projects they have been inspired by, called on fans to think of others at this time of year.
‘With festive holiday season upon us, it’s also a reminder to reflect on those in need – those who may feel lonely, hungry, homeless, or may be experiencing the holidays for the first time without loved ones,’ they said.
‘It’s an important time of year to help those around you who may be less fortunate, or who would appreciate even the smallest act of kindness.
‘Continuing our monthly tradition of highlighting accounts that do good, and inspired by the “twelve days of Christmas” – we have selected twelve organisations caring for those in need – especially at this time of year.
‘There are, thankfully, so many organisations around the world doing good on global and grassroots levels, many of which are not on Instagram.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pictured together attending the Royal British Legion Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on November 9 this year
‘Check out the accounts we have chosen and please share those in your own communities that are making a difference.
‘We would love to hear about the ones that inspire you – so please tell us and add your country’s flag!’
There has been speculation that the couple will spend their American holiday in Los Angeles with Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.
However, other reports claimed that the family may have spent Thanksgiving in the UK, with Meghan volunteering at a homeless shelter near her Windsor home.
An insider told DailyMail.com this month: ‘From what I know, they aren’t coming here [to Los Angeles]. Doria is going there for the holiday [Thanksgiving].’
Wherever they have decided to spend Thanksgiving, the duchess is reportedly likely to do the cooking, royal correspondent Katie Nicholl told OK magazine this week.
‘Meghan loves being in the kitchen,’ she said. ‘She’s a talented chef and takes great pleasure in bringing people together over a family meal.
‘There won’t be any staff helping her – she’ll definitely be wearing the apron’.
There is also a question mark hanging over where the couple and Archie will spend Christmas, after it was confirmed they will not be at Sandringham with the Queen – who was pictured leaving Buckingham Palace for Windsor Castle this afternoon.
Despite Her Majesty giving her grandson her full support, royals sources said the monarch was initially in the dark about Harry’s festive plans until he called her at Buckingham Palace earlier this month to decline her open invite.
The announcement came after Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan opened up about struggling with royal life and public scrutiny in the explosive ITV programme Meghan and Harry: An African Journey, in which the Duchess claimed that not many people have asked if she’s ‘okay’.
Her remarks were interpreted as a criticism of the royals for not offering enough support.
And Meghan and Harry’s choice to spend Christmas apart from the Royal Family has since been criticised, with some calling it a ‘snub’ to the Queen.