The celebrations that Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have been participating in have been very different from the ones that have been taking place at Sandringham.
Over the course of the previous several holiday seasons, the Sussexes have remained in their home state of California, with only one member of their family, Meghan's mother Doria, visiting them. During a recent solo outing, Meghan touched on what Christmas would be like for the Sussexes. She stated that they would have a wonderful lunch and play games, and then she hinted that they would sing along with a guitar.
According to Ingrid Seward, a royal biographer, Prince William and Prince Harry used to consider spending Christmas in Sandringham to be the "golden ticket." However, this situation is quite different for Prince Harry.
"The present opening on Christmas Eve with his extended family, followed by church and traditional Christmas lunch the following day," she said in an interview with the Mirror. After that, there was a pheasant hunt on Boxing Day, and in between that, there were a lot of party games and drinking.
For the first time since his marriage to Meghan in 2018, Prince Harry has only celebrated Christmas in Sandringham once. Instead, he has embraced the customs of the "happy holidays" that are popular in the country that he has accepted as his own. Meghan claims that his mother-in-law, Doria, will have been there at their Montecito residence. Doria is the sole member of his family who resides in the state of California.
They will have selected a tree from the assortment of Christmas pines that are arranged in rows upon rows in one of the local retailers. Christmas lights will be hung up in their yard (garden), and their home will be decked up in festive garb. The rich people who live in Montecito engage interior designers to adorn their homes and trees to the highest possible standard.
"It would not look good if Meghan who publicises herself as the all-American homemaker was to hire someone to adorn their house and decorate their tree. She will have done it herself and made the gingerbread house as is traditional in America," Ingrid added, per Daily Express.
In accordance with the customary practice in the United States, she will have constructed the gingerbread home on her own. The royal family of Prince Harry and Meghan arrived in large numbers at Sandringham in preparation for the large celebrations that were going to take place there as they were decorating their home and gingerbread cottages. In addition, it would appear that Prince Harry and Meghan did not receive an invitation, despite the fact that King Charles was facing a difficult situation.
"Back at Sandringham, it will have been the traditional Christmas style associated with the United Kingdom, which Prince Harry is very familiar with," Ingrid continued.
He understood that inviting Prince Harry and Meghan would have been unpleasant for the rest of the family, but King Charles would have cherished the opportunity to see his grandkids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. He would have relished the opportunity to see them for the first time. Therefore, there was no official invitation sent out.
In spite of the fact that they were asked to spend Christmas in Althorp with their thrice-married Uncle Charles, who is now known as Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Meghan have chosen to remain in California. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet should be able to have "connective memories" of Thanksgiving and Christmas at home, and Meghan believes that it is crucial for them to be able to appreciate the customs that are associated with these holidays, such as putting out "carrots for the reindeer."
Business Times has reached out to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for additonal comments.
