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prince harry and Meghan Markle reportedly put their children first when they decided to spend Christmas at home in California.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex enjoyed a holiday with their son Prince Archie (5) and daughter Princess Lilibet (3) at their home in the exclusive enclave of Montecito.
According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, the couple decided to stay home after declining an invitation to celebrate Christmas at Althorp House, Northampton, UK, an estate owned by the late Princess Diana’s younger brother, Charles, Earl Spencer.
“Harry and Meghan have been invited to Althorp for Christmas with thrice-married uncle Charles, now Earl Spencer, but have decided to stay in California,” Seward told the Mirror. “Meghan says it’s important to her that Archie and Lilibet can have ‘bonding memories’ of Thanksgiving and Christmas at home and enjoy traditions like putting out ‘carrots for the reindeer’.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to spend Christmas at their home in California to create new memories and traditions for their children. (Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images)
Despite the rift between the Sussexes and the royal family, Harry and Earl Spencer continued to have a close relationship.
Harry and Meghan have visited Althorp on a number of occasions over the past few years, and attended by the prince’s uncle His nephew’s 10th anniversary Invictus Games service in London on May 8.
“Meghan says it’s important to her that Archie and Lilibet can have ‘bonding memories’ of Thanksgiving and Christmas at home and enjoy traditions like putting out ‘carrots for the reindeer’.”
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, was reportedly the only other family member to join the Sussexes for their low-key Christmas celebration.
The couple declined an invitation from Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Earl Spencer, to celebrate the holiday in Althorp, England. (Dominic Lipinski/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Representatives for Harry and Megan did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
During an interview with Marie Claire in November, Meghan opened up about her love for the holidays.
She noted that her children are now “3 and 5 years old, so every year it gets better.”
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“At first, I think as a mom with kids, you just enjoy them being there, but they don’t understand everything that’s going on yet,” the former “Suits” star said. “But now we’re at the age where I can’t wait to see it through their lens every year.
“Every vacation is a new adventure.”
December 16 Harry and Markle posted your holiday card, which contained a grid of six photographs. The accompanying message read: “On behalf of the offices of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and the Archewell Foundation, we wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyous new year.”
Among those six pictures was a rare glimpse of Archie and Lilibet. A family photo shows Harry bending down to hug his daughter, and Markle is seen doing the same with Archie.
Harry and Meghan shared a rare glimpse of their children in a new holiday card. (Getty/Archewell)
Earlier this month, People magazine reported that the Sussexes had not received an invitation from the royal family to join them at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk for their annual Christmas break.
Harry and Meghan have not spent Christmas at Sandringham with the royal family since 2018, the same year they married.
On Christmas Day, King Charles III (76) and wife Queen Camilla (77) took part in the traditional royal family walk to morning mass at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.
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They were joined by Charles’ son Prince William (42), Kate Middleton (42) and their children Prince George (11), Princess Charlotte (9) and Prince Louis (6).
Other royals in attendance included Princess Anne, Princess Royal, 74; her daughter Zara Tindall, 43; and Mike Tindall, 46. Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, 60, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, also attended the service.
The royal family celebrated Christmas at Sandringham. (Getty Images)
It was a tumultuous year for the royal family. In February, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles was being treated for cancer, although it did not say what type. Earlier this year, the monarch was treated for an enlarged prostate.
In January, Kensington Palace announced that Kate was planning abdominal surgery. She had not been seen for several months, prompting speculation about her health.
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In March, Kate ended the speculation by announcing that she too had been diagnosed with an undetected form of cancer.
In September, Kate announced that she had finished chemotherapy. In the video in which she announced her progress, she said that the road to full recovery will be long and that she will take it day by day.
She said she will take on some limited engagements by the end of the year.
Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimston and Janelle Ash contributed to this report.
