The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly planning to return to California for Christmas, avoiding what they know would be an 'awkward' and 'difficult' festive gathering with the Royal Family.
The couple, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, are said to be aware they will not be welcome at the traditional seasonal celebrations at Sandringham, Norfolk. Instead, they intend to spend the holiday in the US, where they lived until relocating to the UK two months ago.
Christmas with Doria
They are expected to spend Christmas with Meghan's mother, Doria, 70, who lives in California, where the couple still own an £11m home. The move will allow Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, to spend time with their grandmother, who is said to have a close relationship with both children.
A friend said: "For Thanksgiving and Christmas they will do whatever Doria wants to do. They would love her to come over to the UK and spend it with them here but they will be wherever she wants to be. They won't be having Christmas with the Royal Family. How could that even work? They know it would be too awkward and too difficult. They also know they're not going to be invited - and they're not waiting for an invitation."
Strained Relations
King Charles traditionally hosts his family for Christmas celebrations, but Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, have reportedly not visited him since returning to the UK for their children's schooling. After leaving the country, Harry told US chat show host Oprah Winfrey that racism his wife suffered in the UK - including from within the monarchy - was a 'large part of' their decision to leave.
Following their return, Harry's uncle Earl Spencer published a memoir accusing the King of 'monstrous' behaviour following Princess Diana's death. The Earl claimed the King told him his sister would be forgotten 'soon enough'. Charles, 77, has denied the Earl's claims and sent out a letter stressing that, though they are back in the UK, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not working Royals, cannot use the titles of 'His and Her Royal Highness' and are 'private citizens'.
Upcoming Engagements
On Thursday, however, the couple will visit Nottingham, where they made their first joint public appearance after announcing their engagement in 2017. They will see projects at three charities that support young people and local communities through music, film, sport and tackling food poverty.
A friend said: "Nottingham is a really special place for them and they are looking forward to getting back out there into the community, together."
Meghan is understood to be working full-time on her As Ever lifestyle business and hoping to resume collaborating with charities and patronages from her time as a working Royal. Harry is focused on the next Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham in July, and his UK-based charities.
The couple's UK return remains a rollercoaster. On Friday night, keen rugby fan Harry was booed by the crowd as he watched Leicester Tigers play Gloucester. They were also lampooned in a Saturday Night Live UK sketch that saw Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor set up a 'reunion' between them and Wills and Kate. Neither the Sussexes nor the Royals had commented.
