Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly not been invited to spend Christmas with members of the royal family – and for one expert, it’s easy to see why.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief and author of Majesty magazine “My mother and I,” Fox News told Digital that it was “too much” for King Charles to invite the Sussexes.
“No, I’m not at all surprised he wasn’t invited,” said Seward. “I think the general feeling is that it creates an unnecessary atmosphere, and that’s not what Christmas is about. Christmas is about everybody being happy and getting along with each other. And … I think King Charles just couldn’t deal with (the drama).”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Christmas Day 2017. The couple got married in 2018. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
“He is worn out by his years,” Seward claimed. “He’s dealing with his cancer, and he’s busy, so he doesn’t really rest. And the thought of having Harry and Meghan is probably a little bit too much. He thought it was a bit too much during this period.”
A source said People magazine The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not received an invitation to this year’s gathering at Sandringham, the royal country estate. According to the outlet, the couple has not attended Christmas with the royal family since 2018, the year they married.
The outlet shared that Harry and Meghan are expected to spend the holidays in the US. They live in California with their two children: Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
King Charles III attends a Sunday service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in Sandringham, England on January 7, 2024. Royals gather for holidays at country estates. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
“It doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to see his grandchildren,” Seward said of the 76-year-old king.
“I think he’s desperate to see his grandchildren,” she said. “But Harry won’t come here unless he has this, that and the other. And he wants an armed escort and he’s making so many demands. And I totally understand. (But) Charles is (saying), ‘Look, I’m not going to ask him this yet.’
An insider previously told People magazine that Harry wants to restore his security to allow more flexible visits to the UK for him, his wife and their two children.
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Ingrid Seward’s book, “My Mother and Me,” is now available. (Simon & Schuster UK)
Sources said the issue played a “decisive role” in his ongoing estrangement from his father. Sources said Raja stopped taking his son’s phone calls and did not respond to his letters.
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“I think (the king) is desperate to see his grandchildren. But Harry won’t be here unless he has this, that and the other. And he wants an armed escort and he’s making a number of demands.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live in the affluent, coastal city of Montecito with their two young children. (Andrew Milligan – WPA Poole/Getty Images)
When Harry visited the UK in May for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, he turned down an invitation from the monarch to stay at the royal residence, the Telegraph reported.
The Duke of Sussex rejected the offer because it did not come with any security measures, according to the Telegraph, which meant staying at a location with public entry and exit points and no police protection.
Instead, Harry stayed at the hotel as he had on previous visits.
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Prince Harry visited his home country in May to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Representatives for the father and son did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment at the time.
On May 8, Harry marked the milestone anniversary of the Invictus Games with a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral. Charles and other senior royals Attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace, two miles away.
A spokesperson for Harry, 40, confirmed to Fox News Digital that the monarch is too busy to meet his son.
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Seward hopes that the king and his younger son will make amends in the future.
“I think the kids will eventually bring them together, hopefully,” he said. “Charles wants to see his son like any father… and he wants to see his grandchildren. He’s only met them once or twice and they’re growing up. But I don’t think that’s going to happen because the king’s life is so busy… he has appointments every 20 minutes of the day. have
“When Harry came here, his father didn’t have time to see him, which was terrible for you and me,” explained Seward. “But if you’ve got 20-minute appointments, you can’t slot in someone you haven’t seen for a few months for 10 minutes. It’s better to be too busy.”
Earlier this year, it was revealed that King Charles and his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton were battling cancer. The Princess of Wales announced in September that she had completed chemotherapy treatment. (Samir Hussain/WireImage/Getty Images)
“It’s hard,” Seward admitted. “But I don’t think it’s going to last forever. I really don’t and I think …. You’d think Charles’ cancer scare might have pulled the family together and Catherine’s cancer scare might have pulled the family together. But if it hasn’t, I’m not sure what would have happened.”
Harry and Meghan, 43, were not invited to Trooping the Color in June. The event marked Charles’ annual birthday celebration.
Prince William, his wife Kate Middleton and their three children will spend Christmas in Sandringham, reports People magazine. Both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, which hold the offices of the Prince and Princess of Wales, declined to comment on the Christmas guest list.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales will celebrate Christmas at Sandringham with their three young children. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Harry’s relationship with William, 42, is understood to have soured.
Charles and Harry met in February after Buckingham Palace announced his cancer diagnosis. However, communication between father and son has soured, reports People magazine.
“He’s not available right now,” a friend of Harry’s told the outlet. “His calls were not answered. He tried to reach the king about his health, but even those calls went unanswered.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not attended Christmas with the royal family since 2018, the year they married. (Getty)
Harry and his wife have had a strained relationship with their family since stepping down from royal duties. At the time, the insufferable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British press prompted them to step back as senior royals, the couple said.
The father of two has chronicled his rocky relationship with his family in TV interviews, a documentary and his memoir “Spare.”
A friend told People magazine that the couple “didn’t feel like they had a choice” when it came to their royal exit.
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Prince Harry’s explosive memoir was published in January 2023. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
“Leaving is the only option for his sanity,” the source claimed. “I think they felt that if they got out of this bubble, there would be less attention on them.”
The insider added that the couple’s withdrawal from the royal family may not be a security factor.
“Royal work or not, This is the king’s son,“Nothing would make (Harry) happier than being able to rekindle his bond with his father,” the source said.
King Charles and Prince Harry’s relationship is reportedly strained. (Getty Images)
“At the end of the day, you can’t undo bloodlines,” the insider added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
