Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly not been invited to King Charles's 78th birthday celebrations on Saturday (November 14) or the Royal Family's annual Christmas gathering at Sandringham. The Sussexes have been hit with a fresh royal blow after insiders revealed the couple are being "ignored" by the Firm following their return to Britain.
Despite relocating back to the UK with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, over 11 weeks ago in August, the couple are still waiting for the royal thaw they had reportedly hoped for. Today, as King Charles celebrates his 78th birthday with a small, private family gathering at Clarence House, his younger son and daughter-in-law are notably absent from the guest list.
Frosty Reception Continues into Festive Season
The frosty reception is set to continue into the festive season, with sources on both the Palace and Sussex sides confirming the couple will not be invited to join senior royals for Christmas at Sandringham. According to the Daily Mail, the Palace appears to have adopted a strict "grey rock" strategy - avoiding getting drawn into any Sussex drama while keeping the pair at arm's length.
One source with knowledge of the situation admitted that while there are hopes things may eventually improve, relations remain "complex," adding: "There are obvious reasons why that will not happen. Some people have strong feelings". The remark is understood to refer to the deep rift between Harry and his brother, Prince William, following the explosive allegations made in Harry's 2023 memoir, Spare.
No Face-to-Face Meeting with the King
Since arriving back on British soil - where Archie and Lilibet are nearing the end of their first term at a private school - Harry and the King have reportedly still not met face-to-face. Just four weeks into their return, the Lord Chamberlain's office issued pointed guidance reminding officials that the Sussexes are "akin to private citizens" and should be treated as such during engagements.
While the Sussex camp hit back at the time - insisting they consider themselves "public figures" - the Palace remained silent. A source close to Harry insisted the Duke is unfazed by the double snub, claiming: "Harry is relaxed about it; he knows he is not invited."
Sussexes to Spend Christmas in the Cotswolds
Having originally planned to fly back to their Montecito, California, mansion for the holidays, the couple have reportedly scrapped those plans. Instead, they will remain in the Cotswolds, where Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, will fly over to join them.
A loyal friend told the outlet that Harry is "looking forward to a cold Christmas" and intends to wish his father and brother a Merry Christmas via a phone or video call. "There is no estrangement going on. They are two brothers who will be having a different sort of Christmas," the friend claimed. "Harry is really comfortable that he is not required to be in Sandringham."
Questions over Together at Christmas Invitation
Questions have also been raised over whether the Princess of Wales might extend an olive branch by inviting the Sussexes to her annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 11. While Kensington Palace confirmed yesterday that this year's sixth annual concert will centre on "love, kindness and caring for one another" - a theme some royal watchers have interpreted as a subtle nod toward family reconciliation - an invitation for Harry and Meghan remains highly unlikely.
Despite Catherine's longstanding reputation as a royal peacemaker, insiders point out that she remains fiercely loyal to Prince William, and with relations between the two brothers still firmly in the deep freeze, welcoming the Sussexes into the fold at such a high-profile televised royal gathering would risk overshadowing the event entirely.
Meanwhile, the Sussexes have begun carving out a new routine of quasi-royal appearances, including a joint outing in Nottingham and a trip to the European Parliament in Brussels earlier this week for the Lost Screen Partnership. Meghan pulled out of speaking at the Brussels event, with sources claiming she was "emotionally not strong enough" amid ongoing turmoil surrounding her father, Thomas Markle, who is currently awaiting trial.
However, she subsequently sparked fresh criticism after listing the $695 (£526) double-breasted black coat she wore to the children's memorial event for sale on the resale platform OneOff, in which she is an investor. While Palace sources maintain "the King loves all his children" and have not ruled out a private meeting between Charles and Harry before the end of the year, insiders have admitted it remains a far cry from the regular monthly catch-ups at Highgrove the Duke's camp had initially hoped for.
