This year will be Queen Elizabeth's first Christmas without her husband Prince Philip. He died in April at the age of 99. But not all of her family is expected to be by her side at Sandringham this December, where the royals celebrate the holiday.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were invited to the festival but will not attend, insiders say. One source told Page Six: "There's a lot that goes into the logistics and the planning of the family Christmas, so of course, staff know that Harry and Meghan are not coming. If they were, they would have communicated it to their family by now."
Are Harry and Meghan going to the UK for Christmas 2021?
Initially, it was assumed that Harry and Meghan would fly to the UK from their home in Montecito, as it is the first Christmas since the Queen lost her husband. In addition, the monarch has been suffering from multiple health problems lately.
But Harry and Meghan are also not expected to attend the Queen's annual Christmas dinner, which usually takes place at Buckingham Palace.
In fact, the British newspaper Express had earlier suggested that Harry, Meghan, and their kids would spend Christmas with Princess Eugenie and her family. Harry is very close to his cousin Eugenie, even after his move to the US.
Meghan also gets along well with Eugenie, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Fergie. When Harry traveled to his homeland this year for the funeral of Prince Philip and for the 60th birthday of his late mother Princess Diana, he is said to have been accommodated by Eugenie.
Princess Eugenie also lives with her husband Jack Brooksbank and son August at Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Harry and Meghan.
In any case, the Sussexes' Christmas plans don't appear to have been finalized yet. But it sounds like those hoping for a royal reunion this Christmas shouldn't get their hopes up. The couple hasn't made an official comment at this time.
