THEY may both be in the royal family but the Waleses’ and Sussexes’ Christmas celebrations could look worlds apart this year.
While Prince William and Kate Middleton are expected to spend December 25 at Sandringham, as is tradition, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “have not yet been invited.”
Royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “Harry and Meghan have let it be known they would accept an invitation to Christmas with the royals – but nothing has yet been confirmed.”
If they do spend it on separate sides of the pond, here’s how it could look polar opposite…
The last time the couples celebrated the festive period together was five years ago in 2018, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are thought to be planning on celebrating again in California.
Phil claimed: “Harry and Meghan are likely to be at their home in Montecito with their two children Archie, four, and Lilibet, two.
“Meghan’s mum Doria will join them, but the Duchess of Sussex is of course estranged from her father Thomas and half-siblings.
“There will be no phone calls to them, but the pair may contact the King to wish him festive greetings, as they did recently for his 75th birthday.”
Meanwhile, Kate and William are expected at Sandringham, along with around a large gathering of royal family members.
Phil added: “They will stay at their own home, Anmer Hall, but make the short journey across for church and lunch with around 40 members of the King and Queen’s families.
“It’s possible that William and Kate will spend Christmas Day with her family the Middletons in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury.
“In fact, in the unlikely event of Harry and Meghan coming over, I’m sure that’s what they would do.”
No one quite does Christmas decorations like the royal family, who deck their halls with 30ft trees and spectacular garlands.
At Sandringham, the Queen used to select a 20ft tree herself, having a vast selection to choose from on the huge estate.
And the plush Norfolk abode boasts more than one imposing Christmas tree, all decorated by dainty glass baubles owned previously by Queen Victoria no less.
Prince Harry and Meghan also choose their tree, but it comes from a rather less luxurious location.
In his bombshell memoir Spare, the duke revealed: “We took Archie to find a Christmas tree.
“A pop-up lot in Santa Barbara. We bought one of the biggest spruces they had.
“We brought home, set it up in the living room. Magnificent.
“We stood back, admiring, counting our blessings. New home. Healthy boy.”
When it comes to dining, the royals are lucky enough to have their menus prepared by a host of chefs.
Christmas Day is no different, and a feast is served as the family return back to Sandringham after the 11am service at St Mary Magdalene Church.
Phil added: “The brisk walk in the cold air back to the house is rewarded with a cocktail or some mulled wine in the grand cream and gold drawing room before lunch.
“Scarlet liveried footmen serve a traditional lunch using the Copeland white and blue dinner service bearing George V and Queen Mary’s monogram.
“Queen Victoria’s gargantuan Christmas feasts at Windsor Castle used to include a 60lb baron of beef which four men turned on a spit for ten hours, 50 turkeys, 40 geese and a stuffed boar’s head.
“But the present royals eat like the rest of Britain and enjoy turkey with chestnuts, herb stuffing and cranberry sauce with all the trimmings.
“The servants leave the room while they are eating and then enter with the Christmas pudding flaming in brandy.
“There is no hanging about, and the entire meal will be scoffed down in 90 minutes so that everyone can watch His Majesty’s Christmas message to the nation on TV at 3pm.”
Meghan and Harry may have a much less grand affair, but a tasty meal nonetheless.
Phil said: “When they first dated Meghan famously cooked a roast chicken for Harry, and she will choose between a free range one from their garden or turkey for the big day.”
The former Suits actress detailed her foodie favourites on her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig, which was named after her favourite red wine, Tignanello.
For a starter, Meghan may serve up another go-to recipe of sweet potato and white bean soup, after champagne and canapés supporting a smoked salmon dill dip.
Describing her favourite winter warmer of red wine and hot chocolate, she wrote: “Combining two of every lady’s classic loves, wine and chocolate, this remarkably easy yet decadent dessert is often the talk of the town.”
While many British households may switch on the TV in the evenings, the royal family typically indulges in parlour games, with Charades being a favourite.
Phil added: “The late Queen was brilliant at impersonations of world leaders like Boris Yeltsin and US Presidents, and the King, who once showed his comic timing on stage at Cambridge University, will surely follow suit.
“William and Kate enter totally into the spirit of the occasion and the Princess is known as a great mimic.
“There is little tradition for Harry and Meghan to follow, but they will be carving out their own Christmas style.
“There must be moments however when Harry misses his family and the royal memories of his past.”
One royal tradition that Prince Harry has taken into his new California life is opening presents on Christmas Eve.
The royal wrote in Spare about his 2020 celebrations: “It was Christmas Eve. We FaceTimed with several friends, including a few in Britain.
“We watched Archie running around the tree. And we opened presents. Keeping to the Windsor family tradition.”
William and Kate will also open their gifts on Christmas Eve, and they will be carefully labelled on tables.
Phil added: “All the presents are carefully placed on cloth-covered trestle tables, with a name card marking each family member’s pile of gifts.
“Then, just as the monarch has done since Queen Victoria first started the German tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve, the King will give the signal for everyone to dive in.
“The children get serious presents, sometimes even horses or guns, but the adults share joke gifts worth very little.”
When it comes to personal gifts from their parents, George, Charlotte and Louis “love to open their presents at home before playing with their cousins in the chaos of the big house.”
After the Christmas Eve gifts have been opened, the royals are said to “retire for a bath and the first of many clothes changes to be ready for dinner at 8pm”, according to Phil.
He added: “The Christmas Eve banquet is a grand occasion with the men dressed in black tie and the ladies in gowns.
“A typical dinner will be Norfolk shrimps, lamb or game shot on the estate and a pudding of soufflé or tarte tartin.
“White wine is served with the starter, claret with the main course, and champagne with the pudding.
“The family all toast each other as they clink their champagne glasses.
“But ironically few of them actually like the stuff, and most gets finished off by the servants as they clear the table afterwards.”
While Meghan and Harry are likely to celebrate in style, it is likely gowns won’t be mandatory.
Boxing Day sees another hearty fry up, followed by the annual pheasant shoot.
Harry has taken part in every shoot since he was 12 years old, but has stopped this in recent years.
Previously, a royal source dismissed claims Meghan banned Harry from taking part in the hunt.
The shoot marks the end of the festivities, with everyone going their separate ways afterwards.
Meanwhile, the Sussexes may jet away for a quick break, with Phil adding: “They are likely to be joined by friends and may even depart for a sun-kissed break in the Caribbean for the New Year.”
