Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Christmas plans: Another year away from the Royal Family

For the sixth year in a row, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are spending Christmas away from the Royal Family, instead planning an “extra special” celebration at home.

Once again excluded from the Royal Family’s Christmas celebrations, Harry and Meghan are set to spend the holiday at home with their children and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland.

Despite the physical distance separating them from Harry’s family in the UK, King Charles’ former butler, Grant Harrold, believes there may still be some efforts to bridge the gap this festive season.

“I think Harry and Meghan themselves will possibly reach out,” he told the New York Post.

“The thing about Christmas, it is about goodwill to others, letting bygones be bygones, forgetting the past, moving into the new year.

“So if there’s any point in the year that the families are going to communicate or touch base, it’s going to be over Christmas — there’s something magical about Christmas that gets families back together.”

Much like Harry and Meghan’s modest Christmas celebrations, Prince William and Princess Catherine will be enjoying a low key family celebration at Sandringham Estate, the couple planning to take it easy after what has been a challenging year marked by Princess Catherine’s health battle.

The royal couple are reportedly tailoring the festivities around their three young children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six – as Catherine prepares for her first Christmas since her battle with cancer began.

Harrold, offered insight into William and Catherine’s festive plans, noting that the family aim to create a more positive atmosphere after a tough year.

“Last Christmas she was probably aware that something wasn’t quite right, so I imagine it was quite a tough Christmas,” he told the New York Post.

“(This year is going to be) more positive, based on what we’ve been told.

“It will be like any other Christmas, focused on the young family. They’re very family-orientated, like the late Queen, so that will be their focus.”

Harrold also revealed the royal couple and their children will likely arrive at Sandringham the day before Christmas Eve to begin the festive celebrations.