Kensington Palace confirmed this week that Prince Harry's fianc
ée Meghan Markle with be breaking a major royal tradition and joining the Queen and the royal family for Christmas this year.
However, it has now emerged that although she will be by Harry's side for the traditional royal trip to church on Christmas Day, the couple may well be separated on Christmas Eve by yet another old school royal family rule.
It is well known that the royal family have very set way of celebrating, with customs that are steeped in history. Christmas is no exception, with the monarchy following the same schedule as they have done for decades.
This includes spending Christmas in Norfolk together as a family, opening all of their presents on Christmas Eve, and the obligatory church service for all of the adult members of the family at St. Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas Day.
The walk to church is when the public will get to see Meghan with Prince Harry together in public for the first time alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
However, the church service may be something of a reunion for the couple, as the Daily Mirror reports that as per another royal family tradition, Meghan and Harry will be briefly separated on Christmas Eve.
After the yearly gathering for present opening on Christmas Eve, the paper reports that 'against modern convention' the male and female guests then go their separate ways, with the men joining Prince Philip for a drink while the women turn in for the night.
'On a signal from the Queen, the corgis are led out and the ladies adjourn,' the paper reported. 'Leaving the Duke of Edinburgh to serve port or brandy to the men.'
So for their first Christmas Eve together, Meghan and Harry may actually be separated by the tradition - but only for a short time, before heading to bed and spending the whole of Christmas Day together.
It has not been confirmed where Harry and Meghan will stay at this stage. While many members of the royal family will be based at Sandringham with the Queen, there is speculation that the newly engaged couple might stay at Anmer Hall with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
