The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly planning to spend Christmas in California with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, rather than with the royal family at Sandringham, just months after relocating back to the UK.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved back to Britain in August with their children Archie and Lilibet. Despite this, they are said to be preparing to fly to their multi-million-dollar home in Montecito, which they have retained, for the festive season.
Friends reveal festive priorities
A friend of Harry and Meghan's told The Times that being with Meghan's mother is their priority, despite Harry working to make amends with his father King Charles.
The friend told the publication: "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 their 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."
California plans confirmed
Another friend told the Daily Mail that Harry, Meghan and their children would spend Christmas in California this year, as the couple are trying to "keep their heads down between now and Christmas, when they will go back to California for the holidays".
During her time as a working royal, Meghan only spent two Christmases at Sandringham. She joined the royals at the Norfolk estate in 2017, just one month after their engagement was announced, and again in 2018 as newlyweds.
The couple were also invited to join the family in 2019, when Prince Archie was seven months old, but they decided to spend the festive season abroad instead, just one month before they quit their royal roles.
Meghan's fond memories
Meghan spoke fondly of her Sandringham Christmases in her and Harry's 2022 Netflix docuseries, recalling a phone conversation with her mum Doria during her first Christmas there in 2017. Meghan said: "I remember so vividly the first Christmas at Sandringham, calling my mom, and she's like 'How's it going?' and I said 'Oh my gosh it's amazing'."
Each year, by personal invitation of the King, members of the Royal Family, both working or otherwise, are invited to spend time together in a royal residence. As 2026 winds down, the royals are no doubt starting to plan their annual festive trip to Sandringham in Norfolk, where many gather on Christmas morning to see the royals as they make their way to St Mary Magdalene Church for the festive service.
