For the fifth year running, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have chosen to celebrate the festive season in Los Angeles with their children, rather than joining the Royal Family in the United Kingdom. This decision continues a pattern that began after they stepped back from official duties in 2020, amid a rift that has only deepened in subsequent years.
A History of Festive Separation
The last time the couple marked Christmas with the wider Royal Family was in 2018. On that occasion, they attended the traditional gathering at the King's Norfolk estate, Sandringham, participating in the famous morning walk to St Mary Magdalene Church. For Meghan, it was only her second Sandringham Christmas, having first joined in 2017 shortly before her wedding to Harry.
The shift began in 2019. With their seven-month-old son Archie, Harry and Meghan opted to spend the holidays in Canada with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. It was reported that the couple felt slighted during the late Queen's Christmas broadcast that year, as photographs on Her Majesty's desk did not include one of them with their new baby. According to the biography Finding Freedom, this contributed to a feeling of being sidelined.
The Widening Gulf and Hopes for Healing
The relationship has faced severe strain since the Sussexes' departure, exacerbated by their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, a Netflix documentary series in 2022, and the publication of Harry's memoir, Spare, in 2023. These events included a series of personal revelations and criticisms directed at the institution of the monarchy.
Despite the public fractures, Prince Harry has expressed a desire to reconcile with his family. A private meeting with his father, King Charles, at Clarence House in September was seen by many as a potential first step towards mending ties. However, this nascent diplomacy did not extend to the Christmas period, with no contact reported between the Sussexes and the royals over the festive season.
Christmas Californian Style
In lieu of royal traditions, the Sussex family has established its own holiday rituals in California. In a recent newsletter for her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, Meghan offered a glimpse into their private celebration. She described plans for a day spent in pyjamas, playing board games like Scrabble and Candyland, with music, candles, and their dogs. She emphasised family, laughter, and cosy moments, extending warm holiday wishes to her readers.
As the Sussexes enjoy their life in Montecito, the question remains whether the path to reconciliation with the House of Windsor might one day see them return to a UK Christmas. For now, the festive divide endures, marking half a decade of separate celebrations.
