In a significant deviation from royal traditions, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not participate in this year's Royal Family Christmas celebrations at Sandringham.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not received an invitation to join the festivities, marking another year spent away from the royal gathering, People reported.
This year's decision underscores the ongoing distance between the Sussexes and the British Royal Family since the couple relocated to the United States. Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, have been living in Montecito, California, following their departure as working members of the royal family in January 2020.
Harry and Meghan's withdrawal from official royal duties was announced shortly after spending Christmas 2019 privately in Canada. Their last appearance at the royal Christmas celebration was in 2018, which came after their marriage and during Meghan's pregnancy with their son, Archie.
Tensions between the couple and the Royal Family have not eased, particularly concerning personal security and family relations. Prince Harry has expressed significant concern for the safety of his family, intensifying his efforts to have his UK security reinstated, a legal battle he has pursued for over four years.
These security concerns were one of the decisive factors in their move to the U.S., as they sought the ability to have armed private security, which they felt was crucial for their well-being. This point was highlighted during their Netflix docuseries, where Meghan reminisced about her initial warm experiences with the Royal Family during her first Christmas at Sandringham.
During their time in the UK earlier, Harry and Meghan experienced memorable moments, such as Meghan's first royal Christmas where she sat next to Prince Philip. Meghan shared fond memories of this occasion, describing it as "amazing" and mentioning delightful conversations despite Prince Philip's hearing challenges.
The absence of Harry and Meghan from major royal events continued throughout 2024. They were notably absent from the Trooping the Colour festivities in June, a significant date on the royal calendar. Their distance was also evident when Prince Harry visited the UK in May for the Invictus Games' tenth anniversary without a meeting between him and King Charles, who had recently announced his cancer diagnosis.
The lack of communication has been a point of pain for Prince Harry, particularly regarding his father's health. Reports suggest that attempts to reach out and discuss King Charles' well-being have gone unanswered, adding to Harry's frustrations and feelings of alienation from the family.
Harry's desire to reconnect and support his father during his health challenges remains keen, yet the responses have been discouraging. This estrangement also extends to his brother, Prince William, with whom relations are reportedly strained.
Since moving to the U.S., the Duke and Duchess have focused on their family and various professional endeavors, distancing themselves from the traditional roles and responsibilities of working royals. Their decision to step back was described by a friend as being driven by a lack of choice for their "sanity" and a hope for decreased public scrutiny.
Continuing their life in America, the Sussexes are creating their traditions and reportedly plan to spend the holiday season privately in the U.S. Their focus remains fiercely on their young family and providing a stable, secure environment for their children away from the intense pressures they face in the UK.
As the festive season approaches, the Royal Family prepares for its traditional gathering without the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, highlighting the continuing divisions within this famous family and marking another chapter in the ongoing narrative of their complex relationships.
