The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching. But over in Montecito, it’s shaping up to be anything but, as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle row over their Christmas plans.
The Sussexes have been NFI at Buckingham Palace ever since they stepped down as senior royals in 2020, and proceeded to burn all remaining bridges with the royals. But over the past year, Harry has reportedly been pulling out all the stops to make peace – and his attempts might be working. Rumour has it that, for the first time in six years, he might be invited to spend Christmas at Sandringham. And even if he doesn’t make the cut, his options are mounting, as he’s also been asked by Princess Diana’s side of the family to spend the festive season at the Spencer ancestral home of Althorp House.
However, those two options seem to be at odds with Meghan’s vision for a Californian Christmas. But while Harry naturally wants his wife and kids to have the perfect holiday season, the prospect of a reconciliation has him wanting Meghan to think about a visit to the UK. And, according to insiders, the uncertainty is causing all kinds of friction – and it’s leading to one almighty festive showdown.
‘It’s such an important time of the year for Meghan,’ says an insider close to the Sussexes, who last spent Christmas with the royals in 2018. ‘Her festive memories from childhood are something she still talks about and romanticises. She’s got all sorts of traditions to uphold, and of course she wants her husband to enjoy them, too.
‘She wants them to catch up with friends and do all the fun things, such as wrapping gifts and sending out cards. She’ll also want to make a big dinner and create memories to last a lifetime, so the fact that Harry would even think about them being elsewhere is hurtful. As far as she’s concerned, this is a time when they should be strengthening their relationship.’
Though Meghan and Harry were once inseparable, they’ve recently upped their efforts to take on solo projects in an apparent attempt to turn around the negative press they received last year. While Harry has been busy travelling in recent months – undertaking several trips to the UK, plus visits to New York, Lesotho and South Africa for charity work – Meghan’s been holding down the fort in LA, while also undertaking several solo appearances herself.
But the question over where Harry and his family spends Christmas is a tricky one to solve, as he tries to heal old wounds with his family. Having publicly lashed out at them for so long, he’s changed his tune – not least since learning of King Charles and Kate Middleton’s cancer battles. And, just as Meghan has her own traditions, Harry has many happy memories of spending royal Christmases at Sandringham. However, bringing Meghan and the kids to the UK, considering the mutual friction between her and her in-laws, plus his vocal concerns for her and their children’s safety on UK soil, makes it a complicated option. And trying to convince Meghan it’s worth considering is causing bust-ups in the process.
‘In her view, it’s crucial for them all to be at home in Montecito during the holidays – especially after the strain they’ve been under lately,’ we’re told. ‘Meghan sees this as a time to press pause andwork through any lingering issues. The idea of Harry getting her to agree to Christmas in the UK with the royal family is laughable.’