Meghan Markle opens up on spending Christmas with Firm and vows to ‘never return’
Meghan Markle made a poignant statement about her time with the Royal Family during Christmas in her Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan. The Duchess of Sussex’s royal tenure may have been short, as she stepped down as a senior working royal in 2020, just two years after marrying Prince Harry. However, she spent two Christmases with the royals.
Meghan was first invited to spend Christmas in Sandringham in 2017 before she and Harry were married, with the pair announcing their engagement just a few weeks before. The Sussexes spent Christmas with the royals the next year, too, when Meghan was pregnant with Prince Archie, but they skipped the traditional outing in 2019 as the feud between the two sides was already brewing.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Christmas Day in 2018 (Image: Getty)
Meghan Markle in the Netflix docuseries (Image: Netflix)
“Calling my mum, and she’s like, ‘How’s it going?’ And I said, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s amazing.
“It’s just like a big family like I always wanted. And there was just this constant movement and energy and fun.”
However, it appears that the relationship between the two camps had seen better days, as two years later, a royal author claimed that Meghan did not want to be involved with the British monarchy again.
Omid Scobie, who has been previously dubbed Meghan’s “mouthpiece”, said in an interview with Paris Match while promoting his book Endgame: “Meghan has made it clear that she never wants to be involved in the British monarchy again.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will unlikely be heading to Sandringham this year to spend Christmas with the royals.
The last time the couple made a joint appearance in Britain was in September 2022, to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
Harry and Meghan are likely going to spend Christmas with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in Montecito, California.
Following the revelations in her Netflix docuseries, it seems Meghan Markle has embraced a life away from royal obligations, focusing instead on her family and personal projects. Sources close to the couple have indicated that Harry and Meghan are determined to create their own traditions in Montecito, emphasizing a private, intimate Christmas with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Unlike the highly publicized royal gatherings, this year’s holiday is expected to be a quiet celebration, centered around family bonding and giving their children a sense of normalcy.
Despite stepping back from royal duties, Meghan has maintained a connection with charitable work, often using the holiday season to spotlight causes close to her heart. The couple has also continued to engage with fans through selective media appearances, including interviews and documentaries, which allow them to share their story on their own terms.
The decision to avoid Sandringham underscores Meghan’s longstanding desire to distance herself from the pressures and scrutiny of royal life. Insiders say this move is not only about protecting their mental health but also about establishing boundaries that enable them to prioritize their children’s upbringing in a less public environment. With this approach, the Sussexes are redefining what a modern royal Christmas looks like—private, meaningful, and free from external expectations.