With the holidays approaching, it has been reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not planning to visit the royal family at Sandringham for Christmas this year. A source speaking with People said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be spending the holidays California again instead. Their last royal family Christmas was in 2018.
The King and Prince Harry are last known to have met in February of this year, soon after Charles was diagnosed with cancer. But a source close to the Duke told People that the King is not responding to phone calls and letters and communication has allegedly broken down between father and son.
“He gets ‘unavailable right now,’” the insider claimed at the time. “His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King’s health, but those calls go unanswered too.”
The Sussexes were also not invited to Trooping the Colour in June, the King’s annual birthday celebration, nor did Harry meet up with his father when he was in the U.K. for the Invictus Games due to the King’s “full schedule.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales, however, are planning to be at Sandringham along with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Kate Middleton recently completed her own treatment for cancer, announcing the end of her chemotherapy in September, and is planning a festive holiday. The Princess will be hosting her traditional Together at Christmas carol service on December 6.
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped back from their duties as working members of the royal family and decided to move to Montecito, California, with their children, five-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet. With this change, there also came a change to their automatic security level when in the U.K., which is said to be a source of contention. The Duke has concerns about his family’s safety, making it difficult to visit and remain connected.
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.