Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly do not expect to receive an invitation to spend Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham this year, with a friend claiming a reunion would be 'too awkward and too difficult.'
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly planning to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, although their final destination has not been confirmed. The claims suggest a festive reunion with King Charles is unlikely, but Buckingham Palace has not publicly confirmed whether the couple have been invited.
The reported plans come six years after the Sussexes stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020. While Harry has reportedly maintained some contact with his father, relations with other family members are believed to remain strained.
Expect No Sandringham Invitation
According to reports, a friend of the Sussexes said the couple understands they are unlikely to be invited to join the Royal Family for Christmas at Sandringham, the King's Norfolk estate. The source reportedly said: 'They know it would be too awkward and too difficult. They also know they're not going to be invited, and they're not waiting for an invitation.'
Rather than anticipating an invitation, Harry and Meghan are reportedly making alternative arrangements with Ragland, who lives in California. The couple is said to be planning to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas with her, although the location will depend on her preference. California therefore remains a possibility rather than a confirmed destination.
Sandringham has long been the setting for the Royal Family's traditional Christmas celebrations, with members typically attending the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church. The annual walk to the church offers a rare public glimpse of the family's festive gathering and is closely watched by royal observers.
Harry and Meghan last spent Christmas at Sandringham with the Royal Family in 2018, before stepping back from their official royal duties. Their decision to establish an independent life in the United States marked a turning point in their relationship with the monarchy. Tensions between the Sussexes and other members of the Royal Family have continued to attract public attention.
Royal Rift Continues as Sussexes Plan Christmas Away
The prospect of another Christmas apart comes against the backdrop of Harry's complicated relationship with his father, King Charles, and his older brother, Prince William. Reports suggest Harry and Charles remain in telephone contact, although Harry and William are not believed to be in direct contact. These reported circumstances do not establish the full state of the family's private relationships.
Harry and Meghan reportedly met Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove on 10 July 2026, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, also present, according to published reports. The meeting has not been presented as evidence that relations across the family have been fully repaired. Contact between the King and his younger son does not necessarily indicate that a wider reconciliation is imminent.
The Sussexes are expected to continue their independent public and charitable work, with reported engagements in Nottingham in October 2026. The precise date of the reported appearance has been omitted here because published reports differ, and the schedule requires definitive confirmation. Their public engagements do not, in themselves, confirm any change in their private relationship with the Royal Family.
For Harry, an invitation to Sandringham would carry significance beyond the festive gathering itself, given that he has not attended the family's traditional Christmas celebrations there since 2018. However, the reported expectation that no invitation will arrive does not establish whether the King has personally ruled out a reunion. It is also unclear whether the matter has been formally discussed by the family.
For now, reports suggest Harry and Meghan are preparing to spend Christmas with Ragland rather than at Sandringham. Neither Buckingham Palace nor the Sussexes has publicly confirmed the final arrangements. The possibility of a royal reunion therefore, remains unresolved.
