Prince Harry And Meghan Markle 'Were First To Donate' To Neighborhood Car Parade Of Lights

Dec 26, 2021 by apost team

When it comes to showing holiday spirit, members of the royal family have consistently proven that they have no shortage of merriment and wonder. With people from all over the world patiently waiting for the annual Christmas cards to come out each year, it’s no surprise that these family members – both past and present – get a thrill out of engaging in holiday festivities and celebrations.

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially stepped back from the royal family, they have moved across the pond to California and are proving to be active and engaging members of their community. Harry and Meghan are going above and beyond this year by making a wonderful contribution to their neighborhood’s brand new Christmas parade. 

The first Annual Montecito Holiday Car Parade occurred on Dec. 13, 2021, marking a new celebration in the neighborhood for all of its residents, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two adorable children, Archie and Lilibet. The new holiday tradition got off to a great start, with people from all walks of life and professions doing their part to make the spectacle as grand as possible. 

Showing as much support as possible for their current place of residence, Harry and Meghan were the first to donate a car to Montecito’s car parade, effectively kicking off the festive celebration in their neighborhood just outside of Santa Barabara, California. The holiday-themed parade was filled with magic and wonder, including its very own Santa Claus, as well as many brightly-lit cars decorated with all kinds of festive materials.

Harry and Meghan are proving to be pretty active members in their new community in Montecito by being the first to donate to the neighborhood’s first Annual Montecito Holiday Car Parade. According to Yahoo News, the couple moved into their estate in the area with their son Archie back in July 2020. In June 2021, they welcomed their second child and first daughter named Lilibet.

In November 2021, the Duchess of Sussex reflected on the family’s decision to move from the United Kingdom to California during an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Speaking about Harry’s feelings on the move, Meghan said, “He loves it… We moved here during lockdown, exactly when things shut down, so we’ve just been able to spend a lot of time at home and creating our home, but I think it’s just the lifestyle and the weather is pretty great. But we’re just happy.”

During the interview, which aired before Thanksgiving, Meghan also talked about the plans she, her husband, and their kids had for the holiday season. “I love to cook,” she said. “We’ll be home and just sort of relax and settle in. It’s our second Thanksgiving at home in California, so it’ll be nice.”

Moving onto the next chapter of the holiday season, Harry and Meghan decided to participate in their neighborhood’s festive car parade. On Dec. 14, 2021, The Montecito Journal reported the success of the first Annual Montecito Holiday Car Parade that occurred the prior evening. Decked out with the theme “Holiday Magic,” the parade was a hit with local residents, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

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An announcement about the parade read: “Thanks to the many parade sponsors including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who were first to donate.” 

Other donations came from other residents and folks from the Montecito Fire Protection District, Village Properties, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Co-chairs Sharon Byrne, Mindy Denson, and Dana Newquist put the holiday car parade together, along with their committee members, creating a fun and exciting new tradition for the residents of Montecito and all of its annual visitors.

According to The Montecito Journal, children and adults aged 1 to 92 lined the streets; the parade traveled up and down, cheering on all of the brightly lit and colored cars decorated with toys, garland, and other holiday decorations. There were even sleighs, pets, and holiday music to really amp up the festive atmosphere. A man by the name of Jack Overall also dressed up as Santa Claus in Newquist’s antique fire engine and tossed candy along the way.

On Dec. 17, 2021, journalist Omid Scobie posted on Twitter about the holiday car parade, highlighting Harry and Meghan’s contribution to the festivities. The tweet read:

“Local residents Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan donated towards the first ever #MontecitoCarParade this week. Kids from the neighbourhood lined the streets on Mon to cheer on festively decorated cars. It’s hoped that the event becomes an annual attraction.”

According to PEOPLE, Harry and Meghan have since shared the first photo of their daughter on their new Christmas card and are excitedly looking forward to the year ahead with their family.

What do you think about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s contribution to their community’s car parade? What holiday traditions does your family or area have? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too.