The Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirm they won't be spending Christmas with the Queen at Sandringham this year
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed that they and baby Archie will not be spending Christmas with the Queen this year, reportedly hoping to ‘recharge’ after a busy year.
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed they will not be spending Archie's first Christmas with the Queen at Sandringham.
- Prince Harry has spent Christmas with his grandmother every day except for in 2012 when he was serving in the British Army.
- This comes after royal news that Meghan Markle fans are convinced she is expecting her second baby because of a specific tell tale sign.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed they will not spend the festive period at Sandringham with the Queen, where the royals celebrate Christmas every year.
It is set to be a big change for Prince Harry - who has always attended Christmas with the royals, except for in 2012 when he was serving in Afghanistan.
While the pair and their six-month-old son Archie will enjoy Christmas with Duchess Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, it is yet to be said where they will spend the big day.
The couple reportedly haven't spent Christmas day with Doria since marrying in 2018, so it might well be the beginning of a new tradition for the Sussex family! Plus, doesn't every family alternate between the in-laws?
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess said, "The Duke and Duchess are looking forward to extended family time towards the end of this month.
"Having spend the last two Christmases at Sandringham, their Royal Highnesses will spend the holidays this year, as a new family, with the Duchess' mother Doria Ragland."
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
The representative continued to explain that the decision to break away from a traditional royal Christmas has been okayed by Prince Harry's grandmother.
"This decision is in line with precedent set previously by other members of the royal family, and has the support of Her Majesty the Queen."
Speculating the reason behind Harry and Meghan's festive change, royal expert and editor of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward explained to The Sun, “Christmas at Sandringham can be quite stressful, so perhaps they don't want to go with Archie at such a young age.
“Having said that, Sandringham has played host to many, many children through the ages and is well set up for them.”
MORE: Prince William and Kate Middleton comfort parents during mental health event
It is believed that Prince William, his wife the Duchess of Cambridge and their children Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four and one-year-old Prince Louis will be in attendance at Sandringham as usual.
But it's likely the Cambridge's will also visit Kate's side of the family too - just like Harry and Meghan. The Middleton's family home is Bucklebury Manor, in West Berkshire, which is close to Kate and William's London home of Kensington Palace.
They may well choose to spend a few days over the festive period with George, Louis and Charlotte's grandparents. But only time will tell...
Caitlin is a Junior News Editor for Goodto.com, covering all things royal, celeb, lifestyle, food, and family. Having set her sights on becoming a magazine journalist when she was a child, Caitlin took on work experience stints at local papers and titles such as Cosmopolitan, Now, Reveal and Take a Break while studying for her Multimedia Journalism degree and has interviews with celebs, reality stars and the Archbishop of Canterbury under her belt (of course, she couldn't resist asking him about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry).
-
3 ingredients to make the late Queen’s ‘penny’ sandwiches, the perfect royal tea-time treat for toddlers
Her late majesty used to love eating these at tea time
By Selina Maycock Published
-
Queen Elizabeth was reportedly left ‘confused’ after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walked out on her birthday plans for great-granddaughter Princess Lilibet
"They never turned up. That candle was never lit.”
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Queen Elizabeth was ‘at her happiest when surrounded by her great-grandchildren’ claims body language expert
The youngsters of the Royal Family had a 'very loving great-granny'
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
The common household chore that divides families - and how the late Queen settled the debate
An anecdote to the late Queen Elizabeth II has been shared and it's so relatable
By Selina Maycock Published
-
The Queen’s death finally ‘hit’ the Royal Family as they spent first summer at Balmoral without her says royal expert
“I’m sure it’s been very poignant for them”
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
The Queen’s best friend reveals their childhoods were filled with ‘ghost stories’ and ‘naughty’ rule-breaking
“The Queen was always wonderful”
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
The late Queen reportedly believed motherhood is ‘the only job which matters’
This month will mark the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Royals pay tribute to the late Queen's 'incredible life' sharing 'beautiful' snap on what would've been her 97th birthday
Its a bittersweet time for the royal family this week in the run up to the coronation
By Selina Maycock Published