MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry’s Christmas is set to be dramatically different to Princess Kate and Prince William’s.
Charles is set to host his first ever Christmas as King this year following the death of the Queen in September.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Christmas card in 2021 featuring Archie and Lilibet
Meghan and Harry’s Christmas is set to be dramatically different to years gone by
William, Kate and their children will spend Christmas in Sandringham with the family
King Charles and Queen Camilla are hosting Christmas at Sandringham this year
The Prince and Princess of Wales will join Charles, Queen Camilla and the rest of the Royal Family in Sandringham – but two notable relatives will likely be missing.
King Charles extended an olive branch to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle last month – but royal experts suspect it will be snubbed.
Instead, Harry and Meghan are likely to remain in California with their kids Archie, three, and Lilibet, one.
Royal biographer Angela Levin even stressed the Firm – including Kate and William – will be “relieved” Harry and Meghan won’t attend.
Royals will focus all their attention on remembering the Queen on their first Christmas without her.
Angela told HOAR: “I’m sure Catherine and William will be there by the King and Queen’s side for part of the holiday.
“Harry and Meghan aren’t coming which I think will be a huge relief for the rest of the family.
“The family will want to make it a very positive day after the Queen’s death and I think the Sussexes presence would most certainly dampen that.”
Meanwhile, Royal expert Richard Fitzsimmons stressed the “Queen will be the centre” of the Royals’ Christmas celebrations.
They will try to put aside all distractions – including Meghan and Harry’s bombshell Netflix documentary.
He told HOAR: “The Queen will be the centre of the message.
“There’s energy difficulties, strikes, economic turbulence.
“And normally the Royal Family would be able to rise above that.”
Princess Kate and Prince William will be with the Royal Family this Christmas
Queen Camilla attended Kate Middleton’s ‘Together at Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey
Prince Harry and William have been walking to church in Sandringham on Christmas day since they were children
But after “unpredictable” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “declared war” with their Netflix series – celebrations may be more tense than usual, he added.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released the first episodes of their bombshell £88million show on December 8.
The show saw Meghan reveal her “jarring” meeting with Princess Kate while Harry took a savage dig at his own father.
The next three episodes saw Harry claim William once “screamed” at him during crunch talks on the Sussexes’ future.
Richard added: “The timing, even if they themselves didn’t choose it, is particularly unkind.
“The Royal Family will be grieving over Christmas.”
In between their grief, the Royals will no doubt make room for joyous family traditions.
In a nod to the Windsors’ German heritage, the family classically lay out their presents on trestle tables and exchange gifts at teatime on Christmas Eve.
The King and Queen Consort have invited large numbers to Sandringham for their first Christmas Day without the Queen.
Camilla will have her son Tom Parker Bowles, 47, and daughter Laura Lopes, 44, at the table for the first time.
Disgraced Prince Andrew, 62, and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 63, have also been given the nod for the Norfolk celebration.
Prince William and Kate, both 40, and their three children, Edward and Sophie and family, Princesses Beatrice, 34, and Eugenie, 32, plus their husbands and kids will likely be there.
And I’m a Celebrity star Mike Tindall, 44, is also expected – along with wife Zara, 41, and their three youngsters.
The family traditionally walk to church together on Christmas day.
And this year will be no different, with as many family members as possible set to walk together in a show of unity after a difficult year.
One senior aide said: “Camilla is keen that her family are at the heart of Christmas, particularly as Charles won’t have his youngest son there.
“It is an extremely important Christmas coming just months after they last all gathered for the Queen’s funeral.”
FIT FOR ROYALTY
Former royal butler Grant Harrold, who worked for the King and Camilla for seven years, said this year’s festivities will be bittersweet.
He told The Mirror: “I think for them it will very emotional this year and I’ve no doubt there are tears that will be shed on the day or the night before because they will be remembering her.
“But I’m sure as well it will be a fun time for the youngsters and it will also carry on how the Queen would have wanted it to.”
It will be the first time the royals have spent Christmas at Sandringham since 2019.
On December 20, the King and Queen Consort hosted a royal Christmas lunch at Windsor Castle.
Up to 50 family members gathered in Berkshire for the festive bash before the big day itself on Sunday.
Guests tucked into turkey with all the trimmings followed by more Yuletide fun later on.
It is not known exactly who else is in attendance, but it is thought to include the same group coming together on December 25 – plus a few extras.
It is the family’s first Christmas since the death of the Queen
Meghan, Harry, Kate and William all walked to church in Sandringham together on Christmas Day 2018
