Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have ‘no plans’ to join Royal Family for Christmas

It’s looking like it won’t be such a jolly holly Christmas at the Royal Family household this December as reports have been circulating that the Sussexes will be missing out on the family festivities once again.

While royal fans may have clung to hope that Prince Harry was moving towards some form of reconciliation with his relatives–after he and Meghan joined the Prince and Princess of Wales in a show of unity following the Queen’s death in September– it appears that tensions have gotten worse following the announcement of Harry’s forthcoming memoir, Spare.

Despite it being the first Christmas the Royal Family will spend back in Sandringham without the Queen and Charles’ first Christmas as King, the Mirror reports that Harry and Meghan have “no plans” to join the family back in the UK.

A source has also told the publication that relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the family are “near rock bottom”, with the Royal Family “completely caught by surprise” by Harry’s book unveiling and its unflinching title.

“This book could spell the end for any relationship Harry wants to have with his family, it’s desperately sad,” the Mirror‘s source said.

“Everyone is bracing themselves for yet another fraught and frantic period at the mercy of the Sussexes.”

Earlier this month, Harry’s publisher, Penguin Random House, announced the Duke’s highly anticipated memoir was set for worldwide distribution in January– teasing that Spare takes “readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror.”

Harry himself had previously promised his forthcoming memoir would be a “firsthand account” of his life that’s “accurate and wholly truthful,” covering all aspects of his life, from growing up in the public eye, to his military service, to marrying Meghan Markle and becoming a father to Archie and Lilibet.

It is understood that the book was intended to be released this year but was rumoured to have been delayed as Harry was having second thoughts about exposing his family in the wake of his grandmother’s death.

Meanwhile, shortly after Harry’s book revelation, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles would be taking over one of Harry’s beloved military roles.

His Majesty is now Captain General of the Royal Marines, a position that was stripped of Harry by the Queen after his decision to step down from his role as a working senior royal.

In an announcement, the King remarked how it was “the greatest possible pleasure to assume the role” of Captain General.