Prince Harry Faces a Painful Christmas Reminder
Christmas may bring mixed emotions for Prince Harry this year, according to royal commentators. While the festive season is traditionally a time of joy, an insider suggests it could also serve as a poignant reminder of Harry’s strained relationship with the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex is thousands of miles away in the U.S. while his royal relatives celebrate together in England. A source claims that not being part of the royal family’s Christmas gathering may cause Harry emotional pain.
“For Harry, it’s a reminder that he doesn’t have any of his side of the family to celebrate with,” an insider told OK! via Express.
Adding to the emotional weight, Harry’s children—Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3—won’t be seeing their royal cousins this holiday season. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6—will all gather at Sandringham, continuing the traditions Harry fondly remembers from his own childhood.
“One of Harry’s favorite memories growing up was all the cousins playing together at Sandringham,” the insider added.
Harry’s ongoing estrangement from the royal family amplifies the sadness. Witnessing his father, King Charles III, and the rest of the royal family spending time together may add another layer of sorrow.
“Seeing all the royals together—going to church, enjoying each other’s company—may well hurt,” the source shared.
The last time Harry saw his father was in February 2024, during a brief visit to England following Buckingham Palace’s announcement of King Charles’s cancer diagnosis. As for Prince William, reports indicate that the brothers didn’t interact when they both attended a memorial for their maternal uncle in August 2024.
It’s been six years since Harry last celebrated Christmas with the royal family. In 2018, he and Meghan Markle joined the festivities at Sandringham, taking part in gag gift exchanges, a festive meal, and the traditional Christmas morning walk to church.
Since then, Harry and Meghan have celebrated Christmas privately. Now residing in Montecito, California, the couple spends the holidays with their children, far from the public eye. However, reports have suggested they might choose to break tradition and spend Christmas with relatives from Princess Diana’s side of the family in England.
Despite the distance, Harry and Meghan continue one royal tradition—opening presents on Christmas Eve, a custom introduced to the British royal family by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Harry reflected on this in his memoir, Spare:
“It was Christmas Eve. We FaceTimed with several friends, including a few in Britain. We watched Archie running around the tree and opened presents, keeping to the Windsor family tradition.”
Prince Harry also recently released a heartfelt statement for Veterans Day and Remembrance Day on November 11, expressing gratitude to military personnel and their families.
“To all those who have served, past and present, I offer my deepest respect and thanks,” Harry wrote. He reaffirmed his admiration for their sacrifices and emphasized the importance of continuing their values of unity and service in today’s world.
Harry, who served in the British Army for 10 years, has dedicated much of his post-military life to supporting veterans, founding the Invictus Games in 2014. The games celebrated their 10th anniversary this year, a testament to their enduring impact on the lives of wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women.
The Duke has also been involved in outreach to bereaved military children through his role as a global ambassador for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity supporting young people who have lost a parent in service.
