Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hint at upcoming appearance from Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet

The carefully composed image, which maintains the children's privacy whilst including them in the seasonal greeting, comes amid speculation about the family's potential first public appearance together at next year's Invictus Games in Vancouver.

The holiday card features six photographs in total, with one showing the family of four outdoors alongside their three dogs - Guy, Pula and Momma Mia.

Five additional images showcase the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their trips to Nigeria and Colombia this year.

The card's message, presented on a deep green background, reads: "On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation, we wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year."

This marks the first time since 2021 that the couple has included their children in their holiday greetings when they first revealed Princess Lilibet to the public.

A source revealed to The Express that Archie and Lilibet could make their first public appearance at the Invictus Games opening ceremony in Vancouver on February 8.

The Sussexes are reportedly planning to bring their children to promote a new "family-friendly" version of the 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," the source said.

This would mark the children's first major public event since the family relocated to California in 2020.

A friend of the couple 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."

Speaking at The New York Times DealBook Summit earlier this month, Prince Harry expressed contentment with their California lifestyle.

"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," he said.

The Duke of Sussex is currently pursuing legal action to secure increased security for his family in the UK.

The inclusion of Archie and Lilibet in this year's holiday card, albeit with their faces hidden, suggests a carefully balanced approach to the children's public presence.

The Sussexes' strategy aligns with other royal parents of their generation, including Princess Eugenie, who similarly refrains from showing her young sons' faces in online correspondence.

Meghan indicated during their Nigeria trip in May that the family is thriving. "We're just doing great. And happy to be watching our family grow up and evolve," she said.

This measured approach to privacy, combined with plans for the Vancouver Invictus Games, could signal a new chapter in how the family engages with public life.