As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle prepare to relocate to the UK within days, questions are being raised about whether they will be invited to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for Christmas. A royal source has told the Telegraph that it is simply “way too early” to confirm when and whether the Sussexes would be included in any public family events once based in Britain, although it is believed they will not attend official events.
Royal Christmas traditions
Each year, by personal invitation of the King, members of the Royal Family, both working and otherwise, are invited to spend time together in a royal residence. The most notable trips come in summer, when the royals head to Balmoral in Scotland for several weeks throughout August, and in December, when the family gathers at Sandringham for the festive season.
The family enjoys a break together in Norfolk over Christmas, and while they largely remain away from the public eye, many gather in Sandringham on Christmas morning to see the royals as they make their way to St Mary Magdalene Church for the festive service. With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, set to relocate to the UK, some have begun to wonder whether they will be invited to this year’s celebration.
Meghan’s Sandringham memories
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 in 2019, when Archie was seven months old, but chose to spend the festive season abroad instead, one month before quitting their royal roles.
Meghan spoke fondly of her Sandringham Christmases in the couple’s 2022 Netflix docuseries, recalling a phone conversation with her mother Doria during her first Christmas in 2017. She 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'.” She added: “It's just like a big family like I always wanted. And there was just this constant movement and energy and fun.” Meghan reportedly sat next to Prince Philip at her first Christmas dinner there, which she described as “so wonderful”.
Historic invitation
Prince Harry also spoke about the day on BBC Radio 4’s Today Show in 2017, saying: “The family loved having her there. There’s always that family side to Christmas, along with all the work that goes into it, but together we had an amazing time. We had great fun staying with my brother and sister-in-law and running around with the kids. Christmas was fantastic.”
Meghan’s inclusion at the 2017 Sandringham Christmas marked a historic moment, as she was the first fiancée to be invited to join the Windsors at the annual festivities, breaking with royal protocol. Neither the Princess of Wales nor the Duchess of Edinburgh spent Christmas Day at Sandringham with their in-laws until after they had married.
