Meghan Markle's sweet photo taken in Montecito garden contains a hidden tribute to Prince Harry

The Duchess of Sussex's garden is so picturesque you might have totally missed the significance of these palm trees

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex look at each other during a visit to the North Shore to dedicate a 20-hectare area of native bush to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy on October 30, 2018
(Image credit: Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage via Getty)

A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes, and the Duchess of Sussex's recent picture spoke volumes about her and Prince Harry. Posting on her As Ever Instagram account on September 24, Meghan shared a new photo that not only showcased her enviable backyard, but subtly paid homage to their love story.

The dreamy photo captures a perfectly blue Montecito sky and shows the Duchess standing with her dogs, black Labrador Pula and beagle Mia, with two sloping palm trees reaching up in the backdrop.

While the post was captioned, “Crisp air, blue skies and the sweetest moments”, it’s what wasn’t said that offers the sweetest significance as the palm trees are a symbol.

The Duchess revealed in a 2022 interview with The Cut that those palm trees mean something special to her and Prince Harry, and were something they noticed immediately when they first viewed their Montecito home.

She told the outlet, "One of the first things my husband saw when we walked around the house was those two palm trees. See how they’re connected at the bottom? He goes, 'My love, it’s us.'"

She added that the palm tree metaphor has become well-known in their household, even being noted by their eldest child, Prince Archie.

"And now every day when Archie goes by, he says, ‘Hi, Momma. Hi, Papa'," Meghan explained.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex attend the One805LIVE! 2025 concert

(Image credit: Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for ABA)

Spare by Prince Harry | £6 (Was £10.99) at Amazon

Spare by Prince Harry | £6 (Was £10.99) at Amazon

In his own words, Prince Harry recounts his experience of life as a member of the Royal Family, sharing fascinating insights and revelations. His best-selling memoir includes his reflections on the loss of Princess Diana and his love story with Meghan Markle.

"If Prince Archie has grown-up knowing the story of the two palm trees, I'd be surprised if Princess Lilibet isn't aware of it too. It's quite the Sussex family symbol," says woman&home's Royal Editor, Emma Shacklock. "They clearly find and appreciate the meaning in small things. We all know that the royals' wedding bouquets are put together with flowers that have special significance and this takes things another step further for Harry and Meghan."

The palm trees would continue to be represented in their ventures. Meghan made a palm tree a focal design of the As Ever brand's logo. In the As Ever crest, the palm tree is flanked by two hummingbirds - another symbol with special meaning.

In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Harry wrote about finding a hummingbird in his house shortly after his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away.

"I had a devil of a time guiding it out, and the thought occurred that maybe we should start shutting the doors, despite those heavenly ocean breezes," he wrote. "Then a mate said: Could be a sign, you know?"

"Visitors, as it were. Aztecs thought them reincarnated warriors. Spanish explorers called them 'resurrection birds.'"

Jack Slater
Freelance writer

Jack Slater is not the Last Action Hero, but that's what comes up first when you Google him. Preferring a much more sedentary life, Jack gets his thrills by covering news, entertainment, celebrity, film and culture for woman&home, and other digital publications.


Having written for various print and online publications—ranging from national syndicates to niche magazines—Jack has written about nearly everything there is to write about, covering LGBTQ+ news, celebrity features, TV and film scoops, reviewing the latest theatre shows lighting up London’s West End and the most pressing of SEO based stories.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.