Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been reportedly excluded from the British royal family’s Christmas celebrations this year, marking another chapter in the ongoing tensions between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and other senior members of the monarchy. The couple, who stepped back from royal duties in early 2020, will not be joining the royal family at Sandringham, the Queen’s private estate in Norfolk, where the royal family traditionally comes together for Christmas celebrations. This development has sparked widespread media coverage and speculation about the state of Harry and Meghan’s relationship with King Charles III, Prince William, and other members of the royal family.
The rift between the Sussexes and the royal family has been publicly acknowledged and has been a source of intense scrutiny for several years. It first became evident when Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping back from their royal roles to pursue a more independent life in North America, citing a desire for more privacy and freedom. This decision led to a series of disagreements over their roles within the family, culminating in their decision to no longer be senior working royals.
In the years since, Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the royal family has been a subject of much media attention. The couple’s high-profile interviews, particularly their 2021 sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, in which they made allegations of racism and mistreatment within the royal family, have further fueled public speculation about their strained relations. Additionally, their Netflix docuseries and Harry’s memoir, Spare, have exposed deep divisions, with Harry discussing the difficulties he faced as a member of the royal family and his complex relationship with his father, King Charles, and his brother, Prince William.
Despite occasional gestures of reconciliation, including Harry attending the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip, in 2021, and the couple’s attendance at Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, it seems the royal family remains cautious about fully welcoming them back into the fold. This Christmas exclusion is seen as another indication that the tensions are far from being resolved.
Sources close to the royal family have suggested that the exclusion could stem from unresolved disagreements between Harry, Meghan, and certain members of the royal family, including King Charles. While some reports indicate that the royal family is keen to maintain traditional family gatherings, others speculate that Harry and Meghan’s continued public statements, media deals, and involvement in high-profile projects may have further distanced them from the royal fold. The decision to leave them out of the Christmas celebrations also suggests that the royal family may be seeking to avoid further public scrutiny or distractions during what is typically a very private and intimate time for the monarch and their closest relatives.
As of now, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not publicly commented on the exclusion, though they are expected to spend the holiday season with their children, Archie and Lilibet, in California. The couple has continued to focus on their philanthropic efforts and various media projects, including their Archewell Foundation and partnerships with organizations like Netflix and Spotify. The exclusion from royal Christmas celebrations underscores the continuing divide between their new life in America and the royal family’s more traditional and formal expectations.
The news is likely to add fuel to the ongoing media narrative about the Sussexes’ place within the royal family, with critics and supporters alike weighing in on the implications for the monarchy’s future. Whether this marks a permanent shift in the family dynamic or simply another chapter in an ongoing saga remains to be seen, but it is clear that the royal family’s relationship with Harry and Meghan is still far from being mended.
