Kate Middleton and Prince William's true reaction to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's upcoming holiday plans has finally been laid bare by a former palace insider. Following reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex intend to fly back to California for Christmas rather than staying in Britain, King Charles's former butler claims the Prince and Princess of Wales are breathing a massive sigh of relief behind closed doors.
Speaking with The Independent on behalf of OLBG, former royal aide Grant Harrold explained that the deep freeze between Prince William and his younger brother is nowhere near resolved. Because tensions remain so high, news that Harry and Meghan plan to spend their first Christmas since relocating to the UK back in the United States with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, has lifted a huge weight off the senior royals' shoulders.
According to Harrold, the Sussexes' decision to celebrate across the Atlantic also serves as a convenient get out of jail card for King Charles. While the royal family traditionally gathers at the monarch's Sandringham estate in Norfolk every December, hosting the estranged couple alongside William and Catherine would have created an unbearably tense holiday atmosphere.
The former palace butler pointed out that maintaining a polite poker face during a brief public ceremony is one thing, but spending days together behind closed doors as a family is far more awkward. Had Harry and Meghan remained in England over the festive period, Harrold noted that it would have been an exceptionally difficult time for everyone inside the royal household.
Meanwhile, reports from People and The Sunday Times confirm that the feeling of avoidance is completely mutual on both sides. Sources close to the Sussexes admitted that attending Sandringham would simply be too uncomfortable right now, adding that Harry and Meghan already know they are not going to be invited to the royal Christmas gathering and are certainly not waiting around for an invitation.
- Former royal butler Grant Harrold claims Kate Middleton and Prince William are breathing a "sigh of relief" over Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's holiday plans.
- Despite recently moving back to Britain, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly flying to California to spend Christmas with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.
- Harrold described the couple's US holiday trip as a convenient "get out of jail card" for King Charles to avoid an awkward Sandringham reunion.
- Insiders note that Harry and Meghan are fully aware they will not receive a Sandringham invite and are not waiting around for one.
