A four-hour skiing trip to Colorado in mid-December reignited global scrutiny of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s increasingly separate lives. Days before Christmas 2024, the Duke of Sussex flew to Aspen for a snow polo championship while Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, remained in California—nearly 900 miles away.
The Colorado Getaway
Harry arrived in Aspen on December 17 for what sources called a late-planned trip with friends. He spent approximately four hours skiing with Argentine professional polo player Nacho Figueras, a longtime member of his inner circle, before competing in the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship on December 17 and 18.
A subtle detail caught observers’ attention: Harry played under the name “Harry Wales,” the surname he used at school and during his military career, rather than his Duke of Sussex title. The choice added another layer of symbolism to a brief but widely discussed trip, hinting at a return to a less public phase of his life.
Meghan’s Response and a Year of Distance
While Harry navigated the slopes, Meghan made a rare Instagram move. She shared a story featuring a photograph of Harry on horseback during the match, captioned simply: “Oh, hello there.” The brief message became the subject of intense interpretation among royal watchers, coming as it did amid a noticeable trend in 2024: more separate public appearances.
Since a joint visit to Colombia in August, Harry and Meghan have frequently appeared at different events across different continents. He has traveled alone to New York, London, and southern Africa for charitable work, while Meghan has focused on engagements and projects in California. When persistent rumors about their marriage resurfaced in December, Harry responded with humor, saying they had “apparently divorced maybe 10 or 12 times,” dismissing the speculation.
The Security Question
Behind their travel patterns lies a longer-running dispute over protection in Britain. Meghan and the children have remained in the United States, avoiding the United Kingdom, where Harry has been fighting since 2020 to restore public-funded police protection for his family following their departure from senior royal duties.
In February 2024, a High Court judge rejected Harry’s legal challenge over the removal of that protection. Harry has argued that his background as a former front-line soldier in Afghanistan and his public profile make him a potential target. In his memoir Spare, he wrote that he had killed 25 Taliban fighters during his military service—a detail he has cited in support of his security claims. After a failed appeal, he told the BBC that he could not “put my wife and children in a position that could put them in danger.”
Later in 2024, the UK Home Office ordered a new threat assessment, marking the first comprehensive review of his risk level since 2020. The reassessment is expected to conclude in January 2026 and will determine whether Harry’s family should receive armed police protection during UK visits. If the review grants protection, it could enable Archie and Lilibet to spend more time with King Charles and other relatives. If it upholds current arrangements, the family’s US-based lifestyle is likely to continue.
California Christmas Traditions
While Harry competed in Aspen, the Sussex family’s Christmas plans remained centered in Montecito. Since moving to California in 2020, they have celebrated at their home, a property reportedly valued at $14.65 million, with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, typically joining them.
Meghan has publicly discussed building new rituals for their children, including personalized Advent calendars filled with handwritten affirmations and cooking her mother’s Christmas Eve gumbo—a dish tied to Doria’s Tennessee family history. “A tradition has to have a beginning,” Meghan explained on camera, framing their California celebrations as a deliberate departure from palace formality.
Meanwhile, King Charles hosted approximately 45 relatives at Sandringham, including Prince William and his three children. Harry and Meghan have not attended the royal family’s Christmas gathering since 2018, before Meghan’s pregnancy with Archie and long before their exit from royal duties.
Shared Circles, Separate Ventures
Nacho Figueras has remained a steady presence in Harry’s life since they met at a 2007 charity polo event for Sentebale, the organization Harry co-founded to support children affected by HIV in Lesotho. Figueras has spoken publicly of his admiration for Harry, describing him as “a wonderful man” who “really cares,” and attended his 2018 wedding. He later appeared in the couple’s Netflix ventures, including a polo-focused series released in December 2024.
The Sussexes’ Netflix partnership has produced mixed results. Their documentary series Harry & Meghan became one of the platform’s most-watched factual programs, while later projects attracted less attention. The couple is reportedly pursuing a “twin-track” life, with Harry focusing on philanthropic commitments while Meghan concentrates on entrepreneurial ventures. One insider suggested they had “hit their stride as individuals—not just as a couple,” with commentators framing their separate outings as pragmatic division rather than estrangement.
Under the Microscope
Every move continues to draw intense scrutiny. Meghan’s Instagram caption was viewed millions of times within hours, prompting commentary from British and American outlets. In Britain, headlines questioned Harry’s timing in traveling so close to Christmas. In the United States, analysts examined Meghan’s message for clues about their relationship dynamic.
Harry and Meghan have consistently rejected marital problems claims. Speaking at the DealBook Summit, Harry expressed sympathy for online critics whose “expectations continue to rise” only to be “met with disappointment.”
As 2024 closed, their situation remained in limbo: Harry skiing in Colorado under an old surname, Meghan greeting him from California to millions of followers, and their future potentially hinging on January 2026’s UK security review. Whether that decision opens doors to Britain or reinforces their California-centered life, their choices will remain under close public observation.
Sources:
People Magazine – “Meghan Markle Reacts to Prince Harry’s Surprise World Snow Polo Championship Appearance in Aspen”
Hello! Magazine – “Prince Harry enjoys ski trip to Aspen with close friend Nacho Figueras”
Hello! Magazine – “Prince Harry’s UK security arrangements under review”
BBC – “Prince Harry’s security in UK under review”
NDTV – “What Prince Harry Said On Separation Rumours with Meghan Markle”
Newsweek – “Prince Harry Breaks Silence on Divorce Rumors”