Meghan Markle made a comment about the upcoming festive season last month that some have considered to be a swipe at the Royal Family.
Since quitting life as senior royals in 2020, Meghan, 43, and Prince Harry, 40, have spent Christmas away from the Royal fold, something Harry had only done very few times before.
While Christmas with the royals is very traditional and includes a morning church service, a black-tie Christmas Eve dinner and a large Christmas lunch, Meghan revealed that the festive season at the couple’s Montecito mansion – where they have lived for four years – is quite the opposite.
Talking to Marie Claire last month, the Duchess of Sus𝑠e𝑥 said Christmas is one of her favourite times of the year, and was heard saying “every year it gets better” as her children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, understand more.
She also said that Christmas celebrations across the pond are “always pretty low-key”, usually spent with her mum Doria Ragland.
The comments come after Meghan and Prince Harry reportedly did not receive an invite to spend Christmas at Sandringham with Harry’s royal relatives. The prince last spent Christmas at Sandringham in 2018.
One royal expert believes that the lack of invite, and the fact Harry will be spending another year away from the royals at Christmas, could cause him some “hurt”.
A source exclusively told OK! that the festive season will no doubt remind him of just how far away he is from his side of the family.
The source claimed: “For Harry, it reminds him that he doesn’t have any of his side of the family to celebrate with.
“The kids won’t be seeing their cousins, and that was one of his favourite things growing up – all the cousins playing together at Sandringham.
“It may well even hurt seeing all the royals together, going to church and just enjoying each other’s company”.
Although Prince Harry is now estranged from his brother Prince William after the release of his memoir Spare in 2023, the duke is still in contact with his father King Charles.
It is likely they will be in touch over the phone this festive season.