Harry & Meghan Marked ‘Quiet’ Christmas At Home Away From Royals

Prince HarryAnd Meghan Markle reportedly spent Christmas at their California home, absent from the royal celebrations at Sandringham with King Charles and other family members.

The Duchess of Sussex recently described their US vacation as intimate and festive, highlighting how much she loves the festive season.

Meanwhile, the king’s annual Christmas speech, which emphasized family unity and public service, notably omitted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Harry and Meghan reportedly spent the holiday at home in California, as they received no invitation to Sandringham, where Prince William and Kate Middleton honored a royal tradition by celebrating Christmas Day alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family.

However, in a recent interview with Marie-ClaireMeghan shared her views on the family’s “low-key” celebrations in the United States.

“We always make sure we have something to do,” she said. “Like any other family, you spend time having a nice meal and then what do you do? Playing games is the same, someone brings a guitar – it’s fun.”

Meghan also highlighted their practice of “making room at your table for your friends who don’t have family,” recalling how Gloria Steinem once joined them for Thanksgiving.

The Duchess stressed the importance of creating magical memories for their children, Archie and Lilibet, by adopting festive traditions such as leaving out carrots for Santa’s reindeer.

Meanwhile, Kate charmed crowds in the UK as she attended the Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. She walked hand in hand with William and their children, Prince Louis, 6, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince George, 11.

According to the Daily MailCharles and Camilla accompanied the family, although Prince Andrew was noticeably absent. He has reportedly kept a low profile following controversies surrounding his links to a suspected Chinese spy.

During their celebrations, the royal family exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve, continuing their German-inspired tradition of giving each other original, inexpensive gifts instead of extravagant ones.

One memorable example was when William gave the late Queen Elizabeth a pair of slippers in her face.

Although they were not invited to Sandringham this year, Harry and Meghan joined the royal family there for the holiday festivities.

In 2017, Meghan attended her first Christmas at Sandringham after announcing her engagement to Harry. She then reflected on the experience watching the 2022 Netflix series “Harry & Meghan”, describing it as “incredible.”

“I remember the first Christmas at Sandringham very well,” Meghan shared. “I call my mom and she asks me, ‘How are you?’ And I said, ‘Oh my God, it’s amazing. It’s like a big family like I always wanted,” she added. “And there was just this constant movement and energy and fun.”

Recalling the evening meal, Meghan mentioned sitting next to Prince Philip, affectionately calling him “H’s grandfather.”

She laughed about the moment, saying, “I thought it was so wonderful. And I was like, ‘Oh, we talked, and it was so great.’

She added: “He [Harry] it was like, ‘You got his bad ear.’ He couldn’t hear anything you were saying. I was like, ‘Oh. Well, I thought it went really well.'”

As well as being left off the guest list at the Sandringham celebrations, Harry, Meghan and Andrew were notably absent from Charles’ annual address to the nation on Christmas Day.

During his speech, Charles highlighted the dedication of the medical professionals involved in his and Kate’s cancer care.

He also expressed pride in how communities across the UK came together in response to the summer’s riots, showcasing clips of William and other working royals.

Talk to The mirrorroyal historian Dr Tessa Dunlop noted that Charles’s speech “chose to focus on the family’s strengths, not weaknesses, to consolidate the nation”.

She remarked: “Let us have no doubt, the intelligent film which accompanied this speech underlined the importance of the king’s royal team, ready to offer what Charles sees as an alternative to global killing: a mission of listening and understanding. this leads to actions for the good of all. »

Dunlop added: “As well as a replay of the King’s famous hug with the New Zealand women’s rugby team, there was footage of Kate at Trooping the Colour, of Camilla in Scotland and Australia, of William serving food to the homeless and, of course, those royal stalwarts, Princess Anne and the Edinburghs.

As the rift between Harry, Meghan and the royal family widens each year, it’s unclear if there will ever be a reconciliation.