William DEFIED King Charles Over His Bold Decision To Catherine’s Parents In Berkshire
The Prince and Princess of Wales are no doubt looking forward to the festive season, with Catherine set to host her annual Christmas Carol service at Westminster Abbey.
The couple traditionally spends Christmas with the rest of the Royal Family at Sandringham in Norfolk, stepping out to greet locals on the way to church. In recent years, the Wales family has joined them for the annual outing.
This year, their plans are yet to be confirmed, but they have only missed Christmas with the Royals on two occasions.
The first was in 2012, when Catherine was in the early months of her pregnancy with Prince George and suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe sickness. Just weeks before Christmas Day, she was hospitalized with the condition. The then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge opted to spend the festive season with Carole and Michael Middleton in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
The decision to stay with the Middletons that year was to aid the Princess’s recovery, with the pair later visiting Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip privately at the Sandringham Estate.
The second occasion was in 2016, when the couple broke tradition again to spend Christmas with Catherine’s family in Bucklebury. Royal fans were delighted as the couple brought George and Charlotte to the church service, accompanied by Carole, Michael, and Catherine’s siblings, Pippa and James.
The young Royals left the church clutching candy canes, with George wrapped up in a gray button-up coat and Charlotte matching her mother in a navy jacket and burgundy tights.
The festive tradition resumed in 2022, with Prince Louis joining his family for the first time on the walk to church. The then 5-year-old clutched dad Prince William’s hand as he joined the rest of the Royal Family. Afterwards, he joined his mom, the Princess of Wales, to greet well-wishers.
Many eagle-eyed Royal fans noticed Louis’s outfit and speculated that his trousers once belonged to older brother Prince George, who memorably wore them in a landmark photo years prior. This outfit choice reportedly upset Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Royal fans have expressed mixed feelings about the Sussexes joining the Royal Family at Sandringham for Christmas. Polls show that out of 1,621 readers:
- 84% voted that the Sussexes shouldn’t bring their children to Sandringham this year.
- 14% stated that the couple should bring them.
- 2% were undecided.
Some expressed sadness for Archie and Lilibet, noting the children don’t know their British family. However, others argued it would be unfair to the Royal Family to risk trust issues or potential media leaks.
Additionally, many feel King Charles and Catherine deserve a peaceful holiday after a challenging year with their health. Critics argue that inviting the Sussexes could disrupt the festivities.
In a notable photo released at the start of 2020, George stood proudly alongside William, his grandfather King Charles (then Prince of Wales), and the late Queen in Buckingham Palace’s throne room.
This image, while celebrated by many, reportedly upset Harry and Meghan. The photo symbolized the future of the British monarchy, a clear statement of succession that excluded them. Harry and Meghan felt alienated, interpreting it as evidence of their marginalization within the institution.
Just days after the photo’s release, Meghan and Harry shocked the world by announcing on social media that they were stepping back from their senior Royal roles.
Last year, Harry and Meghan connected with King Charles for his 75th birthday. Archie and Lilibet sweetly sang “Happy Birthday” to the Monarch in a video recording, sparking speculation about a potential reunion.
However, sources reveal there has been little communication between the Sussexes and the King since that moment.
