Prince Harry 'Ignores' Meghan’s Advice on Handling William During Holiday Season
While Prince Harry once criticized his family, he has considerably softened this year, making this year's Christmas especially heartbreaking.
After their 2020 royal exit, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were unwelcome at the annual Sandringham Christmas celebrations. While the Duke of Sussex once harshly criticized his family, he has considerably softened this year, making this Christmas especially heartbreaking. According to royal expert Jennie Bond, Harry is reportedly ignoring his wife's push for love, kindness, and stronger family ties, choosing instead to remain on icy terms with Prince William. As Bond noted, the brothers' strained relationship is likely to bring King Charles much sadness this Christmas.
Speaking to the Mirror, Bond stressed that Harry likely has conflicted feelings about this year's holiday, but remains determined to celebrate it with Markle, their children, and his mother-in-law. Explaining his alleged dilemma with his family across the pond, she said, "He [Harry] says he still has a deep love for Britain, so the images of his family making that familiar walk to Sandringham Church might, indeed, pull at his heartstrings." She added, "When he's enjoying Christmas in the warm Californian sunshine, with his wife, children and mother-in-law, the attraction of an often grey, damp Norfolk might fade a little."
The royal expert also highlighted Markle's repeated emphasis on love, kindness, and strong family bonds in her Netflix cooking series, With Love, Meghan. In one of the holiday special episodes, the Duchess revealed her fondness for adding personal touches to her Christmas tree that reflect her close-knit family ties, explaining, "There's just something about it that in one area in your house you're able to really encapsulate your family story, really feel the passage of time and the different chapters of your life through the ornaments." According to Bond, Markle's strong advocacy for family unity served as another reminder of her husband's fractured relationship with William and Kate Middleton.
Not only Harry, but even Charles is reportedly feeling the Christmas blues owing to the long-standing rift between his sons. Highlighting the King's alleged sadness and his daughters-in-law's repeated assertions for peace, Bond continued, "I imagine that for King Charles, there will always be a sadness that both his boys and their children aren't with him at this special time of year. His two daughters-in-law often speak about love, kindness, and the importance of family, and yet William and Harry remain as far apart as ever." However, she argued that she doesn't anticipate the Duke to readily swap the relaxed, chilled-out California celebration with his little ones for the formality of a royal Christmas.
Despite Harry's alleged sadness over not celebrating Christmas with the royals, he seems content with marking the holidays with Markle. On December 19, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released their Christmas card, showing they were just as happy as their UK-based family. It featured the royal couple smiling as they walked through the snow during the first-ever Winter Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler. Dusted with white snowflake specks, it carried a simple seasonal greeting, "We wish you a very Happy Holiday Season and a Joyful New Year."
