Meghan Markle was celebrating US Independence Day

Meghan and Harry now live in California (Image: Getty)

The Duchess of Sussex has opened up about a personal July 4 tradition that began during the early days of her relationship with her husband.

In an Instagram post, Meghan said the couple began marking Independence Day in the United States with sweet treats after the duke brought themed cupcakes to celebrate their second date in 2016.

The pair now include children Archie and Lilibet in the tradition, Meghan added. Posting a picture of seven cupcakes on social media, Meghan wrote: “Our second date was the 4th of July 2016 and H brought me cupcakes to celebrate.

“Now, all these years later, our two children are in on the tradition. Happy Independence Day! May your day be as sweet as these cupcakes”.

Harry and Meghan have stepped back from Royal life(Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)

The duchess was also seen smiling in the kitchen and preparing fruit platters in a reel posted by her As Ever brand to mark the US holiday. A video on As Ever’s Instagram account, captioned “Happy 4th of July!” showed Meghan preparing boards of fruit and jam.

Earlier this week, the duchess’ new rose wine, which is said to “capture the essence of sun-drenched outdoor moments” and costs more than £20 a bottle, sold out within an hour. Meghan launched her As Ever Napa Valley Rose 2023, described as having “soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish”, on Tuesday.

The beverage, priced at more than £65 for a minimum three-bottle order, had only appeared to be available for US customers to buy, with shipping addresses limited to America. The duchess made her social media return in early 2025 and regularly shares personal milestones and professional updates through her Instagram account.

Harry and Meghan have been raising their children in Montecito, California, since announcing they were stepping back as working members of the royal family on January 8 2020. The couple have since been at the centre of tensions with other royals, with the duke becoming estranged from his father, the King, and his brother, the Prince of Wales.

In a recent interview, Harry said he “would love a reconciliation” with his family, claiming Charles will not speak to him and expressing concern that he does not know “how much longer my father has”.