Meghan Markle opened up about new Christmas traditions away from royal life
Sandringham is a distant memory
![US actress and fiancee of Britain's Prince Harry Meghan Markle and Britain's Prince Harry arrive to attend the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FJw5UXK7Dpmq2QAzgeXWDS-415-80.png)
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will once again be spending the Christmas festivities away from the Royal Family.
Since the Sussexes left the UK back in 2020, tensions have been high between the two sets of royals on either side of the Atlantic, which has made it difficult for Harry and Meghan to take part in family celebrations.
But over in Montecito, Southern California, the Duke, the Duchess, the Prince and the Princess will be having a ball together, cementing their new holiday traditions as a family of four.
"We're creating new [traditions] now that our little ones are growing up. And we're enjoying every moment of it," Meghan said in an interview with E! News during Variety's Power of Women event in November.
She added: "I love trimming and decorating the tree with my children."
We don't know for sure whether the Sussexes were invited to the royals' traditional Christmas at Sandringham in Norfolk, but royal expert Jennie Bond has previously claimed that their being invited would create too much conflict.
"I can’t see how Charles could invite Harry and Meghan without causing major disruption and upsetting William and Kate, who would presumably refuse to attend," Jennie said in November. "So I don’t think they will be invited for Christmas."
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Meghan has attended just two Sandringham Christmases in her time — the first in 2017, when she and Harry were engaged, and the second in 2018.
The Sussexes skipped the festivities in 2019, ahead of their official royal exit in the following weeks, preferring to spend the special day in Canada.
We now know from the couple's various TV interviews, as well as their Netflix docuseries and Harry's memoir, that in the intervening years they were already feeling quite unhappy within the royal fold in 2019.
Sadly, it doesn't look like the Sussexes will be spending a Christmas in Britain for a while yet.
-
Anissa Kermiche on why being a dreamer is her super power
By Penny Goldstone
-
I'm a shopping expert, and I know these shoes are set to triumph as the hot new retro trainers
I want them all
By Sofia Piza
-
How to say ‘no’ to anything and why we should all be more discerning with saying ‘yes’
Author Natalie Lue makes a case for finding the joy of saying no
By Mischa Anouk Smith
-
Meghan Markle just made a surprise return to acting
The Duchess of Sussex is back on the small screen
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Royal biography Endgame pulled after Dutch translation 'names' royal who 'questioned' Archie's skin colour
Omid Scobie's latest royal book is already proving controversial just a day after its release
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Kate and Meghan have not spoken 'in four years'
It even predates the Sussex royal exit
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Harry and Meghan have not been invited to the King's birthday
Yeesh
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle open up about this very relatable parenting fear
It's a very modern problem
By Lauren Hughes
-
Spotify CEO shares why Meghan Markle's podcast was cancelled
"We’re learning... and we are moving on."
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Meghan hints at the date of Archie and Lilibet's public debut
The little Prince and Princess have yet to make an official appearance
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Is Meghan Markle writing her own memoir?
It's not out of the question, according to one commentator
By Jadie Troy-Pryde