Prince Harry has spent another Christmas estranged from his family as his feud with the royals shows no signs of ending. The Duke of Sussex was not referenced in any way during the King’s Christmas speech and the celebrations at Sandringham once again took place without him or his wife, Meghan Markle.
The pair have not spent a festive season in the UK since 2018 and have spent the last five in the USA. It has robbed Charles, currently undergoing treatment for cancer, of the chance to see his grandchildren Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, at the most important time of year for the royal family.
Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, have spent as little time in the UK as possible and even the King’s cancer diagnosis failed to persuade Harry to spent much time in the country of his birth. It follows years of attacks on the royals and the institution of monarchy.
Sources say the King is keen to reconcile with Harry despite their differences. But according to the Daily Beast’s European editor Tom Sykes, the 76-year-old feels helpless to act without the consent of his heir Prince William, Harry’s brother.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle accused of copying vibe for new Netflix show from black British aristocrat
READ MORE: Rare photo of Prince Archie on surf outing with Prince Harry is republished on Instagram
Sykes claims this is because the King “feels he cannot bequeath his heir a settlement with Harry that William cannot live with”. While Charles is in a forgiving mood, William, 42, remains furious at his sibling.
Central to William’s anger was Meghan’s claim that a member of the royal family had made an apparent “racist” remark about Prince Archie before he was born. It was alleged they asked what colour the baby would be and while they did not name the royal, William feels it was inevitable it would be linked to his wife Kate Middleton.
Kate Middleton, left, with Meghan Markle
(Image: PA)
She and the King were consequently named in an early Dutch edition of a pro-Harry and Meghan book as being those who asked about the skin colour. Meghan had claimed there “were concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he was born” although Harry later tried to backtrack, insisting nether he or Meghan had accused anyone of racism.
For more news, follow us on Facebook and Twitter but never miss the latest top headlines and sign up to our daily newsletter here.