Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly set to be excluded from the Royal Family's Christmas celebrations at Sandringham, with King Charles and Prince William said to have "effectively banned" the couple from joining them.
According to Woman&Home, the decision has been described as a "quiet act of revenge". The publication added: "After all, Christmas is a time for family, peace and reconciliation."
Christmas Plans in the Cotswolds
The Sussexes are expected to spend the holiday at their new country home in the Cotswolds, alongside Prince Archie, seven, Princess Lilibet, five, and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.
Last December, the Royal Family gathered for the traditional Christmas at Sandringham without Harry and Meghan, who spent Yuletide at their mansion in Montecito, California, reportedly playing board games such as Scrabble. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were also absent, having been stripped of their titles as Duke and Duchess of York following revelations linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Fallout from Spare
The reported snub follows the publication of Harry's 2023 memoir Spare, which contained a series of claims about members of the Royal Family. The couple's absence from the famous "walk to church" line-up on Christmas morning is expected to further highlight the divide.
Commentator Chris Riches argues that the silence from Charles and William makes the decision feel personal, and suggests the couple, particularly Harry, are unlikely to be deterred by the exclusion. He draws a parallel with the word "hubris", which in Scrabble scores 11 points, the same as "revenge".
The long-term prospects for reconciliation between Harry and William appear uncertain, with Riches stating he cannot see the brothers ever properly making up and being close again.
