This Christmas marks the sixth consecutive year that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won’t be joining the Royal Family at Sandringham, with reports suggesting that King Charles III did not invite them. Despite their absence from the traditional royal festivities, the couple is expected to have a cozy holiday season with their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, in their Montecito, California home.
According to columnist Richard Mineards, while the Sussexes won’t be attending Sandringham’s Christmas celebrations, they won’t be short of festive activities in their neighborhood. Mineards suggests that Archie and Lilibet might enjoy visiting the State Street Ballet’s Nutcracker performance in nearby Santa Barbara, a classic holiday tradition, as well as attending the New Year’s Eve Pops concert by the Santa Barbara Symphony, featuring Broadway classics and a circus performance by Troupe Vertigo.
It’s likely that the Sussexes will spend Christmas with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, who could help look after the children if Harry and Meghan decide to attend the concert. There have also been reports that Princess Eugenie may join the family for the holidays, although it’s unclear whether she has confirmed her visit.
Since moving to the U.S. in 2020, Harry and Meghan have kept their Christmas celebrations private, having spent previous holidays with the Royal Family in Sandringham or in Canada. The couple’s ongoing rift with the Royals, particularly with Harry’s father, King Charles, has meant that they have not been included in the royal Christmas celebrations in recent years.
In a past interview, Harry shared that during Christmas in 2021, his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip had sent a waffle maker for Archie, which became a family favorite. However, it remains unclear if there has been any outreach from King Charles to his grandchildren, as the strained relationship between the Sussexes and the Royal Family continues. Whether this Christmas will offer a chance for reconciliation remains uncertain.