Prince Harry and Meghan Markle excluded from Christmas at Sandringham after last attending it 6 years ago
LONDON, ENGLAND: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be attending the royal family’s traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham this year.
According to a source speaking with People, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not received an invitation to join the royal festivities. The couple, who currently reside in the US, have not participated in the Sandringham holiday celebrations since 2018, the year they married.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s exclusion from Christmas at Sandringham follows tensions with family
The exclusion from this year’s Christmas gathering follows a series of strained interactions with the royal family. Earlier in June, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were also left out of the annual Trooping the Colour event marking King Charles’ birthday.
The ongoing tensions between Harry, his father King Charles, and his brother Prince William have been a prominent theme in recent years, especially after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties in 2020.
Sources close to Harry indicated that a major point of contention remains his security arrangements. Since leaving royal life, Harry has repeatedly sought to secure private protection for his family, particularly his wife Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Despite his efforts, communication between Harry and his father has reportedly deteriorated, with Harry's calls and letters going unanswered. “He gets ‘unavailable right now',” a friend of Harry’s shared. “His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King’s health, but those calls go unanswered too.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s strained relationship with family over security concerns
A key issue behind the ongoing rift is Prince Harry’s belief that his father, King Charles, holds the power to reinstate his security. “Harry is frightened and feels the only person who can do anything about it is his father,” one royal source said.
Despite this, a palace insider stressed that Harry’s security situation was not within the King’s control, dismissing the notion as “wholly incorrect.” Harry and Meghan's decision to step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family in early 2020 was partially motivated by their desire for a more private life, including the ability to hire armed private security in the US. A source familiar with their situation noted, “Working royal or not, this is the King’s son.”
Soon after Harry and Meghan announced their engagement in November 2017, the couple spent their first Christmas at Sandringham together which was a departure from tradition since unmarried partners had not previously been invited.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reflect on their first Christmas at Sandringham
In the couple’s 2022 Netflix docuseries, 'Harry & Meghan', the Duchess of Sussex recalled fond memories of that Christmas, particularly her interaction with Prince Philip, Harry’s late grandfather. Meghan described the experience as “amazing,” remembering how she felt welcomed into the royal fold.
"It’s just like a big family like I always wanted,” she shared.
The following year, Harry and Meghan again spent Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham, but in 2019, they chose to spend the holidays privately in Canada.
While Harry and Meghan have not returned to Sandringham since their step back from royal life, a friend of Harry’s revealed that nothing “would give [him] more happiness than being able to rekindle his bond with his father.”
