Our gracious Queen

Why is it so important? I don’t think it means anything more than that Harry and Meghan don’t do everything in the traditional way all the time. Its pointless to read too much into this but in this day and age, I would think it odd if they wanted to spend every Christmas with only one ‘side’ of the family, even if it includes the Queen. All families have significant times when they’re not all together. It doesn’t make them dysfunctional. Come to that, I think the Queen has passed on a gc christening recently.....

My so,ution to this annual Christmas angst? Marry a Scot - my sister did and it worked beautifully, Christmas here and New Year up there as his parents made more of that celebration. Simples!

I see the point of your post, BradfordLass but the people in your post are not living their lives in the world spotlight. As far as I know they're not funded in any way by the taxpayer and haven't had millions spent on renovating their house. They don't play the press with their self-pity nor tease the public with their will they, won't they antics?

I don't care where H&M spend Christmas but I do care about the rift with William. When the Queen dies the Royal family will need to be united behind Charles not split into self serving factions.

The mind boggles?‍♀️. Sad state of affairs really .

Considering the decline of religion in the UK at times I feel it is so hypocritical when all the arguing about who is/isn't going to be in attendance on Christmas Day kicks off. Families don't need to wait for one particular date to have a gathering. No disrespect to those who are actively involved with their church and beliefs. For those of the druid following that they celebrate the midwinter, can't help but think it's a coincidence the 25th Dec is used to celebrate and the 22nd basically ignored. My message may seem cynical but I truly believe Christmas has lost all meaning and causes so much strife for many nowadays.

Well, from what I have always read from many sources, Christmas with the Queen isn't the experience you'd normally have at xmas with your Gran. The occasion retains complete protocol, with even the private family meals having the rule that you can only eat while the Queen is eating, you may not leave the gathering to rest until the Queen goes to bed. And children are not allowed in the dining room while the adults are eating but have separate nursery area where if you don't have your own live-in nanny you brought with you (Archie's nanny is part time and will almost certainly be on xmas hols with her own family) , the children must be cared for by staff they don't know. Ok for older children but would probably make Archie quite miserable.

I do feel that if the Queen wants to ensure that her modern minimally-staffed grandchildren wish to spend xmas with her, she needs to ensure they can have a relaxing and fun time, not feel as if they are on a royal duty. If I ran my xmases that rigidly, I'd have no guests at all!!

The Queen apparently spends time with Archie regularly, as they all live nearby in Windsor. So she's not actually missing out. Prince Philip is missing out somewhat as he no longer comes South, but then I think he's so picky about who he will and won't see and under what circumstances that I don't think most of the married-ins consider it a huge loss to miss out on spending time with him! Again, his choice. He could try being more accepting if it bothered him, but I'd guess it doesn't.

Good for them. Many families have this. They are no different. Meghan can't do right whatever she does. If she had gone to Sandringham she would have been pilloried for leaving her mum alone at Christmas. The Royals can see Archie whenever. It's just a day.

And they have loads of grandchildren, Sophie's kids are always hanging out with the Queen and Duke, so they're not missing out on any fun of being grandparents.

Maybe the queen and PP just don't want the hassle of grandchildren on xmas day or maybe Meghan wants to spend xmas with her Dad.

Notthatoldyet9

I don't care
I am sick of hearing about them
Megan is an attention seeker like Diana

Gosh it’s good to see that somebody else recognises how much Diana LOVED the press.
All this hatred Harry has for the press for harassing his mother is misguided.
Her death was of course awful and so sad for her boys but it was driver error and slapdash security with seatbelts etc - Not the fault of the press, Diana shamelessly courted the press, pulled all sorts of attention seeking stunts and absolutely adored the attention. There was certainly no truth in the ‘Shy Di’ labels - she adored the limelight. Remember that statement just before she dies “I’m going to do something that will shock the world”
No wonder they were following her.
Meghan is not being given the chance to court the press because the press don’t like her but she’s a similar type.
All the hate originally thrown at Camilla PB and she was just so controlled and ladylike and didn’t respond / and now she’s totally accepted. H&M should take a lesson from H’s. Stepmother.

Most of us have family difficulties at Christmas why should they be different? It just proves thay are simply an over-priveleged, over paid anachronism. If ony they could all go to Sandringham (or Balmoral, or any of their other homes) and just stay there!!!

Wonder how many in their 30’s need a rest before someone in their 90’s

maybe Meghan wants to spend xmas with her Dad.

Anniebach, you have to think the situation through. You turn up at someone's house with a 6 month baby. Where is the baby sleeping? In the royal nursery with borrowed staff or in your room where he is probably used to sleeping? Where is your room? Will the baby monitor signal travel through the walls of that large manor house? Or do you want to hang out in your room quietly reading for the evening after you put him to bed so you can care for him properly? Think of the detail, not just the principle.

Personally, I have no interest at all in seeing their photographs. I don’t know them and am pretty much a republican. I’ve no more interest where Harry spends Christmas than where you are (no offence!) or you have in where I am. The whole interest in their doings mystifies me.

Also Anniebach maybe the baby wakes at 5am. Then what time do you think you'd want to go to bed? The Queen stays up late.

Quite. Their ‘difficulties’ are ones many people would rather be dealing with than their own.

Can’t understand some of the comments
Eg ‘Queen spent more time with William and Harry’ - yes? Their mum died.
Doria was invited for Christmas last year.
William and Kate spent at least one Christmas with The Middletons.
Making mountains out of molehills

readymeals amazing how three generations have managed to spend Christmas as Sandringham with their children ?

Anniebach... you don’t have to divorce to be dysfunctional. My in laws managed it very well staying together!

Sandringham is hardly a three bedroom semi. It's vast and there's plenty of room for guests and if H&M want some family fun they shouldn't have fallen out with W&K when they stayed at Anmer the first time.

All they've done is ensure the press will be speculating over where they will now spend Christmas.

When William and Kate spent a Christmas at Buckleberry with the Middletons, they just did it and pictures showed them attending church just the same as they would have done at Sandringham.

No big deal.

William and Kate have their own home nearby Sandringham and are not houseguests of the Queen. Therefore they can drop in for part of the day and go home in time for the children's bedtimes etc. Kate's parents often stay in Anmer Hall over xmas so that William and Kate can attend the formal meals on their own leaving the children with the other grandparents having fun. It's a very different experience. And when they go to Balmoral they would have their permanent nanny with them who the children are happy with. She can take her holiday at another time in the year.

And as for previous generations... well they were cowed by expectations and protocol. Did that make it right? Should we all return to past times, canes in schools etc? I don't think so.

Protocol has its place in official duties and ceremonies, in public. But not at the family xmas, that's just absurd.

I agree travelsafar

I dont live in the UK so I am not sure what this is all about, but here we go again!
I think it would be lovely if everyone was invited to Sandringham, and they could all enjoy Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren etc, as someone mentioned, who knows how long Prince Phillip and the Queen will live for, lets hope they all enjoy Christmas wherever they are.