With Christmas fast approaching, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle prepare for another holiday season outside the British royal family. It will be the couple’s fifth year away from the royal holiday traditions that once marked their lives. They spent the holidays last year in their Montecito home and away from the royal family’s traditional reunions with Prince Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie and Lilibet. So, why do they carry on this family tradition? And what does that say about their relationship with King Charles and the broader Firm? Let’s dive in.
The Sussexes’ Final Christmas With the Royals
Harry and Meghan’s final official Christmas with the royal family came in 2018. Back then, they joined in the customary royal celebrations at Sandringham, Norfolk. Where they spent Christmas with Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and other royal family members. However, their relationship with the firm has been fraught since they stepped back as senior royals in early 2020.
Public tensions grew, and the couple moved to North America amid their exit from royal duties. Since giving up their royal duties. The Sussexes have made a name for themselves as a family that knows what they want (and isn’t afraid to grab it). With the focus on their family and independence, not royal life.
A Silent Night in Montecito
Harry and Meghan have since moved to Montecito, California, where they have built a private life. According to sources, the couple is eager to afford their children an impression of normalcy away from the rigors of royal life. This holiday season will be no exception, as the family is set to stay in Montecito instead of returning to the UK.
Their home in Montecito offers a relatively peaceful environment for family life, out of the limelight. Indeed, according to reports, the Sussexes have never been more protective of their personal space. Especially during the Christmas period, which is a time for them to connect as a family unit.
King Charles: His Grandfather’s Absence
The absence this holiday season that will be most felt: King Charles III, the children’s grandfather. While Harry and Meghan have a cordial relationship with the monarch. They have been solidly estranged since they departed for the United States from royal life. As a result, their children, Archie and Lilibet, probably won’t be celebrating Christmas with King Charles.
According to sources, King Charles is open to seeing his grandchildren but has understood his son’s desire to stay away from the royal family. As Piers Morgan points out, they will never write the headlines like Marey and Enrique. The King is expected to spend Christmas this year at Sandringham with Queen Camilla and other royal family members.
Harry & Meghan Net Worth: Increasing Fortune
Harry and Meghan have built quite a fortune since walking away from the royals, despite much speculation about their relationship with the rest of the family. According to estimates, their joint net worth will be around $60 million in 2024. That figure is the product of many lucrative ventures, including book deals, public speaking events, and their deal with Netflix.
You may have read about their $100 million Netflix deal for documentary series and other projects, which has padded their pockets nicely. The couple has also done philanthropic work, including for the Archewell Foundation, which has centered on mental health advocacy, women’s rights, and environmental sustainability.
The Sussexes Emphasis on Family and Privacy
Even though they have made billions, Harry and Meghan have insisted that they are focused on raising their family and preserving their privacy. They have said that the pressures of royal life became a burden too significant to carry and that they wanted to live outside the glare of public scrutiny.
The move by him and his wife, Zara, to raise their children away from the UK was met with a mixed response. Although some royal enthusiasts have expressed disappointment, others have shown sympathy for the couple’s wish for more privacy. What is clear, though, is that the Sussexes are hell-bent on forging their own path, one that involves holiday gatherings that go their own way rather than royal Christmas gatherings.
The Future: Relations with the Royal Family
The relationship between Harry and Meghan and the royal family is still fraught. Though they’ve publicly disagreed, they have also had moments of unity. However, their much-noted attendance at King Charles’ coronation in May 2023 without their children, has also been taken as a tentative step toward reconciliation. But their absence from royal events including the holiday celebrations indicates that the split is still vast.
As for what’s next, it’s hard to know whether the Sussexes will ever be fully reintegrated into royal life. At least, they appear to be happy with their life in California, where “we’re just working on our family and our projects and just growing.