How Meghan introduced Christmas crackers to US – and Harry makes playful jab at her cooking

The Duchess of Sussex transforms British Christmas traditions for American viewers while Harry makes a “brutal verdict” on her festive cooking attempts.

Meghan Markle explains the humble Christmas cracker to restaurateur Will Guidara on her Netflix holiday special, Picture: Netflix

Meghan Markle, in a holiday special episode of her much derided cookery show With Love, Meghan, tried to introduce the humble Christmas cracker to the American public.

Explaining the humble cracker to restaurateur Will Guidara, she said: “I really started to know them, they almost have a fortune cookie size joke or riddle and something sweet.”

Having discovered the British festival favourite after “living in the UK”, she placed a lavender roller ball into a cracker she was making for her daughter Lili, “a little love letter, chocolate and a little hat” for husband Prince Harry, and filled son Archie’s with “burgers and colour red”.

Meghan also made a handmade advent calendar for her children, complete with personal notes.

Meghan also hosted an all-girl pyjama party in her Netflix special, appearing in her kitchen wearing red pyjamas and explaining it was a tradition of her pal Lindsay Jill Roth.

Tennis ace Naomi Osaka also popped round to see Meghan and the pair painted plates and mugs.

Tennis ace Naomi Osaka pops into Meghan Markle’s With Love, Meghan. Picture: Netflix

Harry finally made an appearance after Tom Collichio, star of Top Chef on US telly, made a salad and helped Meghan whip up her mum Doria’s Christmas Eve gumbo recipe.

The host explained her husband would not like Tom’s famous salad as he hated the main ingredients, such as beetroot, fennel, black olives and pickled vegetables.

“He hates all these flavours.”

After getting a kiss from his wife, Harry says: “Hi guys, I smell gumbo.” Picture: Netflix

But after getting a kiss from his wife, Harry says: “Hi guys, I smell gumbo.”

Meghan then tells Harry she’s used a spicier sausage to make the gumbo than he’d be used to.

After Harry tastes the dish – which he says is one of his favourites – he hits back with “I’m not sure it’s as good as your mum’s”.

Originally published as How Meghan introduced Christmas crackers to US – and Harry makes playful jab at her cooking