As the Royal family paraded the Sandringham Estate in traditional fashion, Prince Harry enjoyed Christmas Day some 5,300 miles away.
Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George took centre stage on Christmas Day as they joined the Prince and Princess of Wales on their traditional walk to church in Sandringham.
But over in California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s celebrations were far less public.
The Prince and Princess, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet, have spent the last few Christmases at their California home with just one visitor – Meghan’s mother.
She added: ‘The present opening on Christmas Eve with his extended family and then church and traditional Christmas lunch the next day. Then the Boxing Day pheasant shoot and in between loads of party games and drinking.
‘Since his marriage to Meghan in 2018, Harry has only had Christmas at Sandringham once in December the same year. Instead, he has embraced the traditions of the ‘happy holidays’ favoured by his adopted country.
‘The only relative he has in California is his mother-in-law, Doria and according to Meghan, she will be have been with them at their Montecito home.
‘They will have picked a tree from the rows upon rows of Christmas pines in one of the local stores. Their house will be decorated, and the yard (garden) strung with festive lights. The wealthy residents of Montecito hire interior designers to decorate their houses and trees to perfection.’
Ingrid though believes that the King would have ‘loved’ the opportunity to see Harry’s children on Christmas Day.
Unfortunately, an invite was never forthcoming for Harry and Meghan after years of controversy.
Ingrid added: ‘Harry and Meghan were invited for Christmas at Althorp with thrice-married Uncle Charles, now Earl Spencer, but have decided to stay in California.
‘Meghan says it’s important for her that Archie and Lilibet can have ‘connective memories’ of Thanksgiving and Christmas at home and enjoy the traditions like putting out ‘carrots for the reindeer.’
Whether Prince Harry chose to tune into Charles’s annual speech from American shores is unknown.
The King used his 2025 Christmas address to pay tribute to hospital staff who provided ‘strength, care and comfort’ during his cancer treatment.
Charles too spoke of his ‘deep sense of pride’ at how communities responded to the Southport stabbings.
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