Nicolai Haugsted
Prince Harry’s return to Britain appears unlikely to bring him any closer to a Christmas reunion with his royal relatives.
Christmas at Sandringham has long been one of the British royal family’s most recognisable traditions, bringing relatives together for celebrations away from their usual public engagements.
The annual Christmas Day walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church also gives royal watchers a rare opportunity to see several generations of the family gathered in one place.
But hopes of a reunion involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appear increasingly unlikely, despite the couple’s reported return to Britain earlier this year.
According to reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have already made alternative plans for the festive season, with an insider suggesting that an invitation from King Charles’s family is not something they expect to receive.
An invitation they aren’t expecting
Harry and Meghan reportedly intend to celebrate Christmas with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, rather than joining the royal family at Sandringham.
According to People, the couple are planning to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas with Ragland, although their exact holiday arrangements remain undecided.
It is not yet clear whether the Sussex family will travel to the United States or whether Meghan’s mother will visit them in Britain.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, a source familiar with the situation explained that the couple would prefer to host Ragland at their new home.
“They would love her to come over to the UK and spend it with them here, but they will be wherever she wants to be,” the source said.
However, the insider also suggested that spending Christmas with the wider royal family is not considered a realistic possibility.
The couple reportedly “know they’re not going to be invited” to the traditional celebrations at Sandringham.
“How could that even work? They know it would be too awkward and too difficult … they’re not waiting for an invitation,” the source added.
The claims have not been publicly confirmed by Buckingham Palace or the Sussexes.
Seven years since their last royal Christmas
Harry and Meghan last celebrated Christmas with the royal family in 2019.
That year, they joined relatives including Prince William and Catherine for the traditional walk to church on the Sandringham estate.
Only months later, the Sussexes stepped away from their positions as working royals and began establishing a life outside the royal institution.
Their departure in 2020 eventually took them to California, where they settled in Montecito with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
The relationship between Harry and several members of his family has attracted considerable attention in the years since, particularly following his public interviews and the publication of his memoir, Spare.
Their reported return to Britain in August 2026 has therefore raised questions about whether living closer to the royal family might create opportunities for reconciliation.
For now, however, the Christmas arrangements described by the insider suggest that a festive reunion is not on the immediate agenda.
A quieter life in the Cotswolds
Despite the reported distance from the royal family’s Christmas celebrations, Harry and Meghan appear to be settling into their new surroundings.
The couple are understood to be living in the Cotswolds with their two children, who have reportedly enrolled in school in Britain.
Meghan recently offered followers a glimpse of their family life through a video shared on Instagram Stories.
The footage showed Archie and Lilibet enjoying time outdoors, with one child riding a scooter as the family travelled along a tree-lined road.
The children also stopped to watch a herd of deer moving nearby.
Their black Labrador, Pula, made a brief appearance in the video.
The footage offered a rare look at the family’s everyday activities following their move from California.
Meghan and Harry remain busy with separate projects
The Sussexes have also continued their professional and charitable activities since returning to Britain.
Meghan is reportedly concentrating on her As ever lifestyle brand, while Harry is preparing for the Invictus Games scheduled to take place in Birmingham in 2027.
Over the weekend, Meghan was spotted enjoying scones and cake in London with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
The meeting followed a partnership between Archewell Philanthropies and the Malala Fund connected to International Day of the Girl.
Meanwhile, other members of the royal family have been making public appearances of their own.
Princess Catherine and her 11-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte, reportedly surprised London commuters by travelling on the Elizabeth line.
According to Hello!, the pair boarded in west London and travelled to Tottenham Court Road with a relatively small security presence.
Christmas plans remain separate
Although Harry and Meghan are now reportedly living in the same country as the royal family, their return has not necessarily changed the arrangements surrounding major family occasions.
Sandringham remains the traditional destination for the royal Christmas gathering, while the Sussexes appear to be prioritising time with Meghan’s mother and their children.
Their precise plans have yet to be confirmed, and the insider’s comments do not establish whether any invitation has formally been discussed.
For the time being, however, those hoping to see Harry and Meghan joining William, Catherine and King Charles for the Christmas Day church walk may have to wait a little longer.
