Prince William and Kate Middleton ‘breathing a sigh of relief’ as Harry and Meghan consider U.S. instead of U.K. for Christmas, former butler reveals

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Morning Honey Staff Sun, November 8, 2026 at 12:45 PM UTC

Prince William and Kate Middleton are reportedly relieved at the prospect of Harry and Meghan spending Christmas away from the royal family. BY: MEGA

Prince William and Kate Middleton may be relieved at the prospect of spending Christmas without Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, according to former royal butler Grant Harrold, after reports suggested the Sussexes were considering celebrating the holidays in the United States.

Harrold believes the couple’s absence would spare the Prince and Princess of Wales an uncomfortable family gathering, especially given the strained relationship between the two brothers.

Grant Harrold weighs in on William and Kate’s reaction

Speaking about the possibility of Harry and Meghan spending Christmas away from the U.K., Harrold said the situation would also make it easier for King Charles to navigate family tensions.

Harrold, who worked for King Charles at Highgrove between 2004 and 2011, suggested the Waleses would welcome the Sussexes staying in the U.S.

He described William and Kate as “breathing a sigh of relief” and said their absence could provide the monarch with a “get out of jail card.”

“It’s very different to being poker face in public, it is awkward with family. It would have been such a difficult time,” Harrold said, speaking on behalf of OLBG, per The Independent.

His comments came amid reports that Harry and Meghan were not expecting to spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham.

Harry and Meghan’s Christmas plans take a new turn

The couple’s holiday plans have since become less certain. While earlier reports suggested they could return to California to spend Christmas with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, an outlet reported on November 4 that they were planning to stay in the U.K. instead.

According to the publication, the Sussexes are hoping to spend the festive period with Ragland. The final arrangements will depend on what she decides. The report added that their plans had not yet been confirmed.

A U.K. Christmas would mark a change for the couple, who have spent the festive season in the United States or Canada since leaving their roles as senior working royals in 2020. They last spent Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham in 2018.

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Sussexes reportedly do not expect Sandringham invitation

A friend of the couple previously told The Sunday Times that a reunion would not be happening.

The source said: “They won’t be having Christmas with the Royal Family. How could that even work?”

“They know it would be too awkward and too difficult. They also know they’re not going to be invited, and they’re not waiting for an invitation,” the source added.

William, on the other hand, is reportedly relieved he no longer has to “officially turn [Harry] and Meghan down now.” According to Heat World, an insider also said he has stopped voicing his frustrations about the couple and is instead acting as though they “don’t even exist.”

King Charles could still see Harry and Meghan before Christmas

Reports also say King Charles is open to seeing his younger son before the festive season.

Royal sources previously told Rob Shuter‘s Naughty But Nice that the monarch and the Sussexes were considering a meeting.

“This is not a casual ‘let’s get together sometime. Nobody drops in on the King. If Harry and Meghan are in Charles’s diary, it is because he wants them there. This is deliberate,” the source said.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”