Meghan Markle Shares Family Traditions in Netflix Special

Meghan Markle shared glimpses of her family's holiday traditions in the Netflix special "With Love, Meghan Holiday Celebration," which premiered on December 3. The 50-minute episode featured the Duchess of Sussex preparing festive dishes and crafts in her Montecito, California, home, including a surprise appearance by her husband, Prince Harry, during a cooking segment.

In the special, Markle teamed up with celebrity chef Tom Colicchio to make gumbo, a recipe passed down from her mother, Doria Ragland. The dish, a once-a-year Christmas Eve staple in their family, includes chicken thighs, sausage, shrimp, onions, peppers, celery, spices, rice, and a roux. Markle explained that her mother's version originates from her Tennessee roots near Chattanooga and reflects soul food influences. To accommodate Harry's preferences, Ragland typically omits the shrimp and uses milder turkey sausage instead of andouille.

Harry entered the kitchen mid-preparation, drawn by the aroma. "I smelled gumbo," he said, greeting Colicchio and sharing a quick kiss with his wife. Markle warned him about the spicier version, joking, "I'll give you a little towel, because he's gonna sweat." After tasting it,...