Harry and Meghan fleeing UK to dodge 'awkward' and 'difficult' Royal Christmas
Christmas in Cali is on the cardsHarry and Meghan are set to jet back to California for Christmas - dodging an ‘awkward’ and ‘difficult’ festive get together with the Royals. The couple, who quit the monarchy under a cloud in 2020 after making racism accusations, know they will not be welcome at the Royal Family ’s traditional seasonal celebrations at Sandringham, Norfolk.Instead they plan to return to the US where they lived until moving back to the UK two months ago. They are set to spend Christmas with Meghan’s mum Doria, 70, who lives in California where they still have an £11m home.The move will allow Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, to spend time with their grandmother who is said to have a close relationship with both children. A pal said: “For Thanksgiving and Christmas they will do whatever Doria wants to do.The move will allow Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, to spend time with their grandmother "They would love her to come over to the UK and spend it with them here but they will be wherever she wants to be. They won’t be having Christmas with the Royal Family. How could that even work? They know it would be too awkward and too difficult. They also know they’re not going to be invited - and they’re not waiting for an invitation.”King Charles traditionally hosts his family for Christmas celebrations. But Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, have reportedly not been to see him since returning to the UK for their children’s schooling.After they left the country Harry told US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey racism his American actress wife suffered in the UK - including from within the monarchy - was a `large part of’ their decision to leave.Following their return Harry’s uncle Earl Spencer published a memoir accusing the King of ‘monstrous’ behaviour following Princess Di’s death. The Earl claimed the King told him his sister would be forgotten ‘soon enough’.Charles, 77, has denied the Earl’s claims and sent out a letter stressing - though they are back in the UK - the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not working Royals, cannot use titles of ‘ His and Her Royal Highness’ and are ‘private citizens’.No festive family fun this yearBut on Thursday they will visit Nottingham where they made their first joint public appearance after announcing their engagement in 2017. They will see projects at three charities that support young people and local communities through music, film, sport and tackling food poverty.A friend said: “Nottingham is a really special place for them and they are looking forward to getting back out there into the community, together.”Meghan is understood to be working full-time on her As Ever lifestyle business and hoping to resume collaborating with charities and patronages from her time as a working Royal. Harry is focussed on the next Invictus Games which will be held in Birmingham in July and his UK-based charities.The couple’s UK return remains a rollercoaster. On Friday night keen rugby fan Harry was booed by the crowd as he watched Leicester Tigers play Gloucester. And they were lampooned in a Saturday Night Live UK sketch that saw Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor set up a ‘reunion’ between them and Wills and Kate.Neither the Sussexes nor the Royals had commented.
