Meghan Markle could return to the UK this Christmas with Prince Harry and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, following an invitation from Harry’s uncle, Charles Spencer, to spend the holidays at Althorp, the Spencer family estate. This potential visit would mark Meghan’s first return to the UK since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral two years ago.
According to a source, Charles Spencer has extended a warm invitation to the Sussex family to celebrate Christmas at Althorp, but it’s still uncertain if they will accept the offer. “Charles has invited Harry, Meghan, and the children to Althorp this Christmas. It’s far too early to say whether they will take him up on it, but the offer is there if they want it,” the source revealed to the Express.
Despite this invitation, it appears that Harry and Meghan have not received an invite to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for the holiday season. However, even if they were to receive one, the source suggests that it’s unlikely the Sussexes would accept it. “There hasn’t been an invitation extended to Sandringham just yet, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be one forthcoming. It would be highly unlikely if there was an invitation extended [to Sandringham], and I don’t think they would take them up on it anyway,” the source added.
Harry’s connection to Althorp runs deep, as it is the Spencer ancestral home and the final resting place of his late mother, Princess Diana. Just last week, during a trip to the UK, Harry reportedly visited Althorp while attending a memorial service for Lord Robert Fellowes in Norfolk. The Duke of Sussex and his brother, Prince William, were both present at the service, but according to eyewitnesses, they kept their distance and sat apart at the back of St. Mary’s Church, further emphasizing the strained relationship between the brothers.
Adding to the significance of this moment, Harry is set to turn 40 on September 15, and reports suggest he could inherit millions from a trust fund established by his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, told The Times. The fund, which was set up when Harry was 10, was designed to provide tax-free lump sums to her great-grandchildren, with Harry reportedly set to receive a larger portion than his brother, Prince William, due to William’s inheritance from the Duchy of Cornwall.
As Harry and Meghan weigh their options for Christmas, the invitation from Charles Spencer to spend the holiday at Althorp may offer a meaningful return to a place filled with family history and memories, while their relationship with the Royal Family remains uncertain.