Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to spend another Christmas with their children in the US, their sixth consecutive one away from the Royal Family. The couple, who have lived in California since 2020, also celebrated the festive period away from the UK in 2019 when they travelled to Canada for a private holiday with their newborn son, Prince Archie.

Since the birth of their daughter, Princess Lilibet, in 2021, the family have enjoyed Christmas at their mansion in Montecito. The last Christmas that Meghan and Harry spent in the UK was after their wedding in 2018. Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, have never spent the Christmas period with their royal relatives on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

It remains unclear whether King Charles and Queen Camilla have extended an invite to Harry and Meghan to spent this Christmas at Sandringham – although it appears highly unlikely.

A source recently told US Weekly, that the idea that the Sussexes have been asked to join the royals this Christmas is “slim”.

Royal expert Richard Palmer recently told the Express that the King will most likely reach out to his youngest son to arrange a video call.

He said: “A Skype call is probably a more realistic option. It’s too soon for Harry and Meghan to attend an event like the royal Christmas when there’s so much still to sort out.”

Although Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will likely be absent from Sandringham next week, the King and Queen will be joined by a few other family members to mark the festive season.

Zara Tindall previously confirmed that her family – including her husband Mike Tindall and their three children – will be at Sandringham for Christmas.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, as well as Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, will also be joining the festivities in Norfolk.