Duke and Duchess of Sussex reflect on a meaningful milestone tied to July 4
While Americans marked Independence Day with fireworks and festivities, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their own reason to celebrate—one rooted in the early days of their relationship.
This July 4 marks a sentimental milestone for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. As Prince Harry revealed in his memoir Spare, their very first date took place on Independence Day at Soho House in London, during one of Meghan’s visits to the UK.
The evening left a lasting impression on Harry. Recalling the moment Meghan arrived, he wrote, “She walked in, wearing a pretty blue sundress with white pinstripes. She was aglow. I stood and said: I bear gifts. A pink box. I held it forward.”
Inside the box? Red, white, and blue cupcakes—a sweet nod to the American holiday. Harry admitted to joking about how the British see Independence Day quite differently, but said Meghan found the treats “amazing.”
That date marked the beginning of something serious. After that night, the couple committed to long-distance dating, navigating the challenges of life on opposite sides of the Atlantic—Meghan in the US, and Harry fulfilling royal duties in the UK.
Since stepping back from royal life in 2020 and settling in California, the couple has embraced American traditions as part of their new chapter. Every year, they celebrate the Fourth of July with their children, Archie and Lilibet, often joining in on local parades and family-friendly festivities.
What began as a cupcake-filled first date on July 4 has turned into a tradition the Sussexes now share as a family—blending personal history with a distinctly American holiday.
