The Queen is ‘disappointed’ that the Sussexes won’t spend Christmas at Sandringham

Royal Ascot, Portrait of TRH Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and TRH Meghan the Duchess of Sussex in front of HRH Queen Elizabeth the Second

When we got confirmation from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s office that they would not be spending Christmas with the royal family, I said that I thought it was a mistake. I understood their decision and I get why they want a low-key holiday with Doria Ragland and all of that. But I just thought that they seemed to be making some moves and it looked like they were actually plotting a move. But my view has changed since Prince Andrew’s sh-tshow unfolded over the past week. Now the Sussexes look like g-ddamn geniuses for avoiding the whole Sandringham Christmas rigamarole. Now they look like they’re opting out of the royal family’s shenanigans with Andrew. But you see, the Queen is SO disappointed.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are planning on a “small Christmas with just immediate family,” a source reveals exclusively in the new issue of Us Weekly. Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, who share 6-month-old son Archie, revealed earlier this month that they are set to spend the holidays with the former Suits star’s mother, Doria Ragland. And while Buckingham Palace’s official statement said that they have “the support of Her Majesty the Queen,” the source tells Us that Queen Elizabeth II is actually “disappointed” by the couple’s decision.

“Having spent the last two Christmases at Sandringham, [the couple] will spend the holiday this year, as a new family, with the duchess’ mother, Doria,” the statement read.

According to an insider, the “rift” between Harry and William, 37, “is one of the main reasons behind their decision” to skip the traditional festivities.

“As it’s Archie’s first Christmas, they want it to be super special. “It’ll be just Doria and the three of them,” the insider said on November 13. “The drama surrounding the couple has caused a huge amount of stress. They’re making their family their No. 1 priority right now.”

William and Kate, who share Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 18 months, are expected to attend Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas morning mass and open presents with the queen in Norfolk next month.

[From Us Weekly]

If the initial flurry of rumormongering about the Sussexes’ Christmas plans did come from Camp Cambridge, I kind of wonder if the Cambridge clownery came back to bite in a big way. Now there’s no way that the Cambridges can just have a Bucklebury Christmas with the Middletons. Now they have to go to Sandringham and play the “future king and future queen” roles and of course they’ll be expected to lend some kind of support to the royal family. THAT should be very interesting. And what happens if the Cambridges do try to opt out? Will the Queen be similarly “disappointed”? Anyway, long live the Sussexes and their quiet, drama-free Christmas with Doria. I still say that Harry and Meghan are using this time to think about their next moves, and whether an actual MOVE is in order.

(L-R) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds attend the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 09, 2019 in London, England.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red, WENN.

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119 Responses to “The Queen is ‘disappointed’ that the Sussexes won’t spend Christmas at Sandringham”

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  1. Becks1 says:

    I really don’t think the queen cares at this point.

    One of the differences between the Cambridges and the Sussexes is that they live in Norfolk. they can more easily blend their own Christmas with the queen’s Christmas (i.e. go to church and maybe lunch and then home in the afternoon.) The Sussexes live farther away so its not that easy.

    • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

      And let’s not forget that the Cams have had the Mids stay with them en masse most of the year(s) they’ve done Sandringham. The Mids have even done the Christmas walk WITH the Windsors.

    • Eliza says:

      The Queen loves her family. She’s not a robot. I’m sure she’s disappointed that her grandson and great-grandson can’t join for the Christmas period (xmas eve-boxing day) just like any grandparent would be. It’s not killing her soul or anything, or disappointed with a capitol “D” but she would have liked them to join.

      • Beach Dreams says:

        Right…as I’m sure he was disappointed she couldn’t take a couple of hours out of her day to be present for his first child’s christening. If she couldn’t be bothered to do that (or see her husband more than twice in the last three months, or focus on her family’s issues more than her precious horses), then I’m sure she can bear him skipping out on what’s widely known to be a rather dry “family” Christmas at Sandringham.

      • Becks1 says:

        Meh, she may be disappointed, but i’m sure its a slight disappointment and I don’t think she feels slighted or anything. there are lots of people there, she’ll be fine.

      • Jane'sWastedTalent says:

        I agree Eliza.

      • Eliza says:

        @beachdreams she had an existing week of events in another country that’s been on her schedule for months. They picked the date knowing her availability. I think it’s unfair to say they’d be disappointed she didn’t cancel an annual trip for work that people were already invited to. I doubt they’d expect her to.

      • MsIam says:

        She’s so disappointed but she can’t issue one word of support for said grandson and his wife? Uh huh, right. She’ll get over it I’m sure. Pedo will be there to hold her hand. I hear he has lots of free time on his schedule now.

      • windyriver says:

        @Beach Dreams – the queen does a week of events (garden party, etc) at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland at the same time of year, every year. That’s where she was the first week in July. Anne, Edward and Andrew were with her this year. H&M would have been well aware of this. So this one, at least, isn’t on the queen.

        Since it was the 4th of July holiday weekend in the US, the christening was presumably scheduled during that time for the convenience of other (US) guests, and the queen was reportedly okay with that.

      • Maria says:

        Stop. Not attending the christening is fully on the Queen. She’s the end all be all of decisions – if she wanted to be there, she would have been. Or she would have sent Philip. This was intentional. And Harry and Meghan don’t owe her anything.

      • Megbot2000 says:

        Children aren’t allowed to join in the festivities, except for the present opening on Christmas Eve. The children are kept in separate quarters with nannies on Christmas Day and don’t spend any time with the grownups en masse, royals who are parents don’t even get to spend much time privately with their own children because Christmas is so heavily regimented with mandatory meals, activities and costume changes.

        Let’s not pretend this is a normal family with anything approaching normal attitudes towards child rearing and normal familial bonds.

    • I read an article the other day that the Sussexes are basically being shunned by the royal family. That nobody is calling, visiting, or texting to show any sort of support. How anyone other than Meghan and Harry would know that makes the article very unreliable. However, I haven’t seen one photo or read one article that states that anyone in the family spoke to them or allowed any sort of photo with them at the 2 big Remembrance Day events they all attended. And surely every reporter at those events was salivating for any family contact between the Sussexes and the others (even a behind the scenes friendly greeting or a smile). All we have is a photo of them sitting behind Andrew or Harry having to stand next to Andrew at the wreath laying. I found the footage of Meghan on the balcony sandwiched between 2 obviously unrelenting, frowning in-laws to be especially brave of her and yet sad. Even the body language of the 2 in-laws was hostile and cold and unrelenting. Sophie especially looked like she was sucking on something extremely sour. So, I think there is some truth to the article because how hard would it have been for any of them to give 10 seconds of support with a brief smile or touch or a friendly word to indicate to press (and thus to us all) that they are supported.

      So, who in their right mind — or good mental health — would subject themselves to several days over Christmas with that unrelenting level of hostility just to provide a PR walk to church. Thanksgiving isn’t a holiday in Great Britain so it’s only Christmas we are talking about here.

      I say good for the Sussexes and anything they need to do to thrive not just survive. Who wants to spend quality private time with hostile “co-workers.”

      • BayTampaBay says:

        “I still say that Harry and Meghan are using this time to think about their next moves,”

        I think Meghan and Harry should call Rose and David Cholmondeley and see if they can put them (with Doria & Archie) up for one night in a spare suite at Houghton Hall so they can visit Sandringham and QEII over the holidays.

    • Sue M says:

      They have spent the past two Christmases at Sandringham. I don’t see what the problem is with them spending Christmas with her mom in the States. Normal families often alternate between each side. We did that, one year with my husband’s family and the next with my family. Since my own mum passed away we now have his family Christmas day for turkey and my family for a roast beef dinner a week before Christmas. I only don’t have all of them because I can manage 30 people at a time for dinner. Maybe if the Queens cook came over I could!

  2. (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

    They’re talking out of their a$$es. Didn’t another article come out last week that said TQ “supported” M&H’s decision to spend the holiday with Doria (as they’ve spent the last two holidays with her)?

    Literally flinging out both sides of an “argument” to see what sticks (and we KNOW what the racists and haters will choose).

    • MrsBanjo says:

      It wasn’t an article, it was the official BP statement that said she supports their decision.

      • Nic919 says:

        I’m pretty sure US Weekly has no idea what is going on.

      • Tourmaline says:

        @Nic919, true, I think People Magazine is way more likely to have bona fide sources close to the royals that speak to them than US Weekly. Meghan’s friends working with People for their exclusive this past February called The Truth About Meghan makes it clear that Meghan and Harry sources would be comfortable using People as an outlet.

      • ArtHistorian says:

        It’s the US Weekly – I doubt that they have any real sources at all.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        US Weekly is as bad or worse than InTouch Weekly: pure hater and/or fan fiction.

      • Olenna says:

        People Mag is no friend of the Sussexes. It has been pro-Cambridge (via Jason Knauf connections) for years. If the Sussexes did use People Mag to get the word out about the Bad Dad letter, then People Mag was probably getting played by them as a useful, expendable tool.

      • M.A.F. says:

        It’s been pointed out numerous times, US Weekly is no longer owned by the same publishers. It got bought out a year or so ago by the same publishers that do the National Inquirer. A lot of US Weekly’s staff left who had solid connections. So US Weekly should no longer be considered a legit source.

  3. Frida_K says:

    Well, I’m “disappointed” by the way the Queen capes for her favorite boy, Pedo Andy, so there’s that.

    • Olenna says:

      Ditto. For as little as TQ has done to publicly support the Duchess, she doesn’t deserve to be in their company over the holidays. And, I won’t even get started on naming the rest the clan (in-laws, cousins, etc) that couldn’t give 2 sh*ts about Meghan and Archie.

  4. Tiffany says:

    Yeah, I can totally buy that Liz and The Firm are seething that Harry is going all in with Meghan.

    Everything was a step they thought they were just going to have to wait out.

    They are JUST dating.
    They are JUST engaged.
    They are JUST married and there are no children.

    Meghan was just a starter to them and they figured Harry would come to his senses and jump ship when the press was going hard on his wife.

    Yeah, they pissed that it is the opposite and now they have a child together.

    • Rapunzel says:

      @tiffany- this has always been my thought: they didn’t want a baby to make Meghan forever connected to them. It explains why we didn’t hear of riffs till after that announcement.

  5. Erinn says:

    I think, I’m just not really a holiday person. Maybe if I had kids I’d feel differently? But probably not by a ton.

    I honestly just find the whole holiday thing much more tiring and stressful than fun. I live in the same town (about a 20 minute drive) as both my parents, my husbands parents, and my gram (only surviving grandparent between us). So I see my family a decent amount already. I have cousins who come into town a couple of times a year as well. The only part about holidays that I get sort of excited for is that I get to see the cousins, and now that we’re all adults it’s become more of a holiday adjacent visit some years depending on everyone’s work schedules.

    I do like lights, though, so that parts great. Throwing lights on the house/trees or whatever has enough of a payoff in pretty that I don’t mind doing that. But I hate putting up a tree (I’m allergic to real ones) and the cats/dog have taken a few of the pre-lit ones out over the years, and I ALWAYS struggle to figure out which cord attaches to which other cord lol.

    I have friends that go all out, to the point where I saw one post that they had specific candy cane jars with chalkboard labels that they write cute things on. But it’s SO over the top, I just can’t imagine ever actually making a decorative candy cane holder lol.

    • aang says:

      I think I might be done with Christmas, at least until I have grandkids. My kids are 19 and 21 now and we are going to Mexico for Christmas this year. We aren’t religious and my mom passed a few years ago and xmas was her thing. My husband’s parents are super formal German immigrants so xmas with them was never fun. Plus they love trump so my kids refuse to visit them at all. (One of them is LGBTQ and feels betrayed. The other is loyal to their sibling). I’m just looking forward to chilling with my husband and children and enjoying a Christmas margarita.

      • Erinn says:

        That sounds like an amazing Christmas, aang!

      • Kebbie says:

        What is it with immigrants loving Trump? I’ve got Polish immigrants in my family that are the same. I half-joke with them that he’d deport them if he could. I know Hispanic people, American born with immigrant parents, that like him too. Boggles the mind.

    • Jensies says:

      I feel similarly to both of you, Erinn and Aang. I used to love Christmas but then had a death during the holidays and now I just can’t muster the enthusiasm I used to have for it. I still all the lights and think decorations are objectively pretty, but just can’t be arsed to do any of that decorating myself. I spend Christmas now sleeping in, maybe going to a movie, maybe taking a walk and just enjoying the quiet. A friend said once that they love walks on Christmas so they can imagine a zombie apocalypse and they’re the last ones alive, lol.

      • Erinn says:

        The walk sounds like a nice idea – even with the zombie apocalypse feel haha. I’d much rather sleep in than jump through all of the hoops related to holidays.

    • Kristina says:

      I think I’m like your friend lol. I love Christmas. I do have young kids, but I go all out on all holidays. Most of my decorations and stuff are homemade, though, and I reuse them- I don’t spend a ton. But we bake and do art projects and listen to music and do lights etc. my mom got sick when I was a teenager, and my parents divorced, and my mom died when I was young. My grandma, super religious orthodox Christian, also died when I was young. So I think that fueled me to go the opposite- to try to make it really magical for my kids- and for me, too? Some people let go of it when their elders pass, but I guess I tried to make it even more magical.

      • Erinn says:

        I think it’s incredibly sweet, to be honest. Like – in a way I wish I was more like that? Does that make sense? I’m somewhat crafty, but I just don’t put the effort in, I guess. My aunt and gram go ALL OUT for all of the holidays, and I always think ‘man, that look so beautiful’ but I just am not into it like they are. I also have chronic pain/fatigue which definitely isn’t helping my enthusiasm levels, especially when the colder weather doesn’t help those issues. I know if I do have kids at some point I’m going to have to manage at least SOME enthusiasm, I might just have to enlist the more Christmas inclined folks in my life to help out, I guess.

      • Kristina says:

        @Erinn thanks! I’m not even super religious- but I guess I’m sentimental 🙂 @Nota that sounds really beautiful.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Kristina, I do bake for family, re-read fav Christmas books, holiday music on the player. But for decorating, I’ve gone minimal and natural, along with using recycled-and-recyclable gift wrap. In nature it is a darker, quieter, slower time and I try to reflect that day-to-day in the season.

    • Pineapple says:

      Hey Erinn, You know what I do? I take a Christmas mug and jam it full of candy canes. Voila. It sits on the kitchen counter … the kids love it. It is super festive and ridiculously easy. XO I wish Meghan and Harry a super fun, low-key, get recharged Holiday. As it’s been said here before, toxic families … you just need to protect yourself from them. That’s all. Even if your related to The Queen. Toxic families, disappointed or not … actually, with toxic ones, when you are disappointing them, that’s how you know you are doing the right thing! Honestly. Truth.

    • notasugarhere says:

      I’ve scaled down to fresh greenery from my local independent garden place. Wreath on the front door, evergreens draped on the mantle with a few small candles in jars. Leaving the big decorating and light shows to neighbors who like climbing on icy roofs and ladders.

      • Erinn says:

        I think I just haven’t hit the ‘easy tricks’ level of adulting lol. I’ve only had my own home for a few years now, and from what I’m getting from everyone here the really smart thing is to find EASY decorations. Some of which look like they’re way more time intensive than others.

        I keep bugging everyone at work to find out who’s kids are selling wreaths this year! I’m allergic, but man. It’s such a beautiful smell, and it just is an easy, cozy, decorative thing to do. I actually have a bunch of woods behind my house, and even more behind my parents. I might have to just go for a trek in them to cut some boughs to decorate with. We have spruce, pine, fir… I could probably get a pretty good haul from that.

        We definitely aren’t getting up on our roof, but I’ve come home from work to find my husband on ours more than once lol. “Cleaning” the chimney, but I think he just kind of wanted to go up there. We don’t even use the wood stove xD. We did get one of those multi color light projector things to shine on the front of the house which was such a genius invention for people who don’t want to put a ton of lights up.

  6. Britt says:

    I really doubt the Queen cares and it’s moreso the media upset that they can’t make money off of them. They’re going to make this a huge scandal like always. If anything, they’re the smartest of the bunch for not being there.

  7. Mtec says:

    I don’t see how what they are doing (alternating holidays between families) is any different from what Kasey Musgraves says she and her husband do. It’s totally normal and honestly given that Andrew is supposed to be there, a lot wiser to not spend it around that drama and stress just for good royal family PR.

    Also the Queen approved it already. But I am willing to believe she is disappointed, but only because She won’t be able to use H and M’s appeal/public interest to temporarily distract from/redeem the royal family’s image.

    • Kari says:

      It’s different because they live largely and extravagantly on the public dole. I am not a royalist, but the reality is if you don’t want to do the dog and pony show, abdicate your titles, your security details, your sovereign grant, your royal duchy share, etc. Stop pouting and just go live your life in peace.

      • Silas says:

        Same for the Cambridges when they spent Christmas with the Middletons?

      • VS says:

        Did you say the same thing when the Cambridges skipped the show? or is this a special just for the Sussexes?
        Is there anything worse than hypocrisy in life? (talking about human traits not crimes)
        I will take a well known liar over a hypocrite……..

      • Mtec says:

        @Kari
        I personally believe no matter how public your status is, everyone deserves a break. Christmas holidays for them is not meant to be work, so they are not mandated to engage in PR during that time, though a lot of people seem like it’s they duty even during their break to do so. Even presidents and prime ministers live largely public lives and a lot of their expenses are tax funded, but we don’t claim/demand they should be available to the public during their breaks. To me, what you are saying is very irrational.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Harry and Meghan are doing their royal jobs. Meghan has had at least three large, successful projects in only two years on the job. As they made clear, it isn’t the work that is the problem, they’re not complaining about the work. It is the constant petty, abusive, racist attacks, lie-filled attacks.

      • MsIam says:

        They just did the Remembrance Week. Give the Sussexes a break and let them have a peaceful Christmas with Doria, please.

      • Original Jenns says:

        Do you believe your boss has the right to dictate what you do on weekends? Because all of the Christmas stuff is on private time. The church walk, everything, is just private time put on display. So, I think your statement shows your bias.

      • When did celebrating Christmas as a family become part of official royal duties? Official duties (which are to promote Britian and British industry, products, etc) is one thing. The British people pay about 10£ per person for monarchy. The royals have duties but they are not paid SLAVES with no rights to a private life.

  8. Digital Unicorn says:

    Didn’t take them long to start up the hate against the Sussex’s again to deflect from Prince Nonce, first of his name.

    • kerwood says:

      @Digital Unicorn, FOR REAL! Forcing himself on a underage sex slave DIDN’T disappoint her but the Sussexes doing what several other members of her family have done before DOES?

      Personally, I don’t believe this. I think the Cambridge Clan is pulling this shit to punish Meghan and Harry for having the good sense and good taste to tap out of Christmas before Normal Bill and Keen Katie had a chance to.

    • Jane'sWastedTalent says:

      Lol at Prince Nonce, first of his name! Kerwood, you always have great insights- I completely agree.

      I think a number of posters here (and Kaiser) would make better royal reporters than the current royal reporters! Better insights, more reasoned analysis, you name it.

      • ArtHistorian says:

        Prince Andrew is a goldmine for derogatory nick names, I haven’t seen Prince Nonce before but it is excellent! I still love the name His Buffoon Highness, mostly because it was given to him by career diplomats from his own country.

  9. Harla says:

    As a mom with 2 adult children I can totally understand why the Queen would be “disappointed”. I go through the same thing when one of my kids spends a holiday with their spouses family, I of course expect them to spend time with their in-laws but at the same time I want my babies at home with me.

    • Megbot2000 says:

      The royals aren’t like normal people though. Children are not even allowed to join in, they are banished to the nursery quartets. I doubt the Queen sets eyes on any of the children on Christmas Day.

      And in general royals (and British upper classes) just do things differently. They are not warm. They hand their babies over to be raised by nannies and wet nurses and pack them off to boarding school while they are still young children. There’s footage of the Queen greeting her very young son after months away and when he runs to her for a hug she shakes his hand. Then goes to an event. No love, no warmth, she doesn’t even want to hug him or spend time with him.

      That’s normal for royals.

      • ArtHistorian says:

        I think the BRF is kinda trapped in an Edwardian bubble when it comes to the Queen’s generation. The Windsors are weird, even for modern European royalty.

  10. Golly Gee says:

    “As it’s Archie’s first Christmas, they want it to be super special. “It’ll be just Doria and the three of them.” Subtext: Royal mob + Christmas = whatever the opposite of super special is. Snark! But I doubt this came from a Sussex source. It is US magazine after all.

  11. Ainsley7 says:

    The Queen was always said to be disappointed when Will and Kate skipped out too. She probably is disappointed. That doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a problem and that she doesn’t support their decision. It means that she is someone who likes her family together at Christmas. I think Princess Margaret’s side will be there this year though. So, she’ll have plenty of family around.

  12. RoyalBlue says:

    What exactly is her a Maj disappointed in? That the Sussexes are spending the holidays with Doria? Why would she be upset that Doria gets to spend the holidays with her grandson? Her Maj sees the Sussexes often enough at Windsor. I don’t buy it.

  13. Valiantly Varnished says:

    The Sussexes spent the last TWO Christmases at Sandringham. She’ll get over it.

  14. HMC says:

    It was my understanding, and I may be wrong, but Sandringham is a super formal set for adults and kids are shuttled off to the nursery so the adults can change clothes a million times a day lol. As this is Archie’s first Christmas, maybe that’s not how Meghan would like to spend it. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my son’s first Christmas that way either. Besides, it’s not like they’ve never spent time at Sandringham at Christmas (*cough* 2017, 2018 *cough*) and it’s not like the Cambridges spend every year there (*cough* 2012, 2016 *cough*) or that some grandkids don’t leave the country all together (*cough* Zara and Mike Tindall *cough*) big to do about nothing

    • Ennie says:

      I bet they prefer an informal setting instead of having their plans and activities scheduled by betraying courtiers. Imagine what they’d make up to sell the tabloids.
      As far as now, only stories of “disappointment” can be written about this.

      • MsIam says:

        Exactly, @Ennie, I’m sure the tabs already had the stories of “Meghan storms out, dragging Harry by the ear” ready to roll. Now this puts a crimp in all that, not counting the money from clicks. I guess all that is left is stories of how all the royals sat around at Christmas saying how “disappointed” they are that H&M are not there.

    • Deedee says:

      Yep. When I read what happens at Christmas there, I said (not that I’d be invited) I would rather sit at home with tea and a good book. Nothing fun about formal dining while taking care of a baby as well.

      • Molly says:

        Everything I’ve read about the Christmas schedule sounds miserable. Clothing changes, sitting around, kids shuttled off. No way. I don’t blame Kate and Meghan for not wanting to bring their kids to that. If you grew up with normal holidays, it sounds even more unappealing.

      • Lady D says:

        Not to mention accommodating a nursing baby’s schedule.

      • Virginia says:

        @MsIam l laughed at your comment “Meghan storms out, dragging Harry by the ear” very funny!!

  15. Jen says:

    If my grandma allowed my pedophile uncle to stay around as long as she did and not stick up for me when my family and I faced relentless attacks, I wouldn’t care much about her “disappointment.”

  16. Mrs. Peel says:

    Who in their right mind would want to spend Christmas with that creepy uncle?

  17. Other Renee says:

    I just hope Meghan’s crazy family doesn’t decide to drop in to bring their own very special brand of holiday cheer.

    • Jane'sWastedTalent says:

      Hee hee, I know you meant ‘drop in’ on Meghan and Harry, but I just had a vision of the Markles gate-crashing Sandringham- thanks for this hilarious image!

      • Other Renee says:

        Remember when her cray cray sister, Samantha, actually tried to gate crash in London, passing a letter to the guards to give to Meghan?! That’s what made me think that she’s totally capable of dropping in at Doria’s home or wherever they will be in Los Angeles. Even if the security officers stop her from getting anywhere near Meghan, I’m sure the British press would have a field day. “Evil Meghan turns her own sister away on Christmas Day!” or some other such BS.

      • Izzy says:

        If crazy Sammy does try to gate-crash, I hope they taser her dumb, stalker ass.

        So over both sides of this family. Those two and their little one need some peace and quiet with Grandma Doria, stat.

      • Jane'sWastedTalent says:

        Well Samantha’s on that watchlist now, right? Because of her obsessive and threatening behavior toward Meghan. So that *probably* put the nail in her coffin as far as the press is concerned- I hope.

  18. Rogue says:

    The royals look a mess now with this Andrew scandal & doubt thats going away (good). They really fumbled the bag not showing unity when all the rift rumours came up as a united Christmas showing with the younger members would probably be good right now. Oh well

  19. Whitecat says:

    All I can say is good for Meghan. I would not want to bring my child where Pedo Andy is staying. I completely understand why she wouldn’t want to expose her child to this.

    • Mignionette says:

      I wonder if Andy has shown his pervy wilies to any other RF members or the Aristo set. I say this because the current pile on in some publications appears to be very personally tinged….

  20. Marie says:

    The Queen has 4 children, many grandkids and great grandkids. Doria has 1 kid and 1 grandkid. I’m sorry, but Doria has every right in the world to see them for Christmas. I don’t care if she is the Queen that is Doria only child. The Queen has the rest of her family to spend Christmas with. Plus, I thought everyone was disappointed with Harry and Meghan and cut them off? Now they will miss them at Christmas? LOL

  21. Jodi says:

    well, i’m disappointed that the Queen’s son was involved in activities that included sex trafficking, pedophilia and rape. so, there’s that. but let’s keep focusing on what the Sussex’s are doing for their Christmas holiday *eye roll*

  22. girl_ninja says:

    She needs to be disappointed that her son is a pervert.

  23. Ennie says:

    Those sources know as much as my pet dog about the queen’s brittle feelings what a joke tje tabloids Are. Do they have spy mini drones in the palaces? Maybe a talking disgruntled corgi?

    • booboocita says:

      This made me laugh so much! “Skippy, the queen’s eldest corgi, is said to be very disappointed with Meghan. ‘She doesn’t do belly rubs much. And treats in pockets? Never!’ said a source close to the royal pet.”

  24. Beach Dreams says:

    The media’s more disappointed that they can’t make money off of photos of the Sussexes or the dozens of stories/headlines they were planning to create.

    • notasugarhere says:

      So many of the RRs tantrums and behavior are because they’re losing out on money-making with the Sussex family.

      • Lady D says:

        Based on the amount of people the racist press employs, i.e. body language/lip reading experts, fashion experts to price Meghan’s clothes only, jewelry experts to price the gems, speculation on gift$ to each other, paps for the church walk and the speculative stories about what happened at dinner….if Meghan and Harry aren’t careful, they could tank the British economy by not showing up:)

    • VS says:

      They have access to the Cambridges & their kids. Why isn’t that enough?

  25. DS9 says:

    I’d be far more disappointed to find I’d raised and enabled a pedophile than feel some kind of way about my grandson and his wife taking steps to maintain their own happiness.

  26. Senator Fan says:

    I agree with someone upthread that they seem to be backtracking and throwing whatever into the wind and see what sticks. M & H bowed out of doing the holidays with the Queen and it’s over a month away. And didn’t reports say the Queen pops over for tea all the time? Or is that BS. Wouldn’t she tell them in person if she was disappointed they aren’t attending. Every story contradicts the one before. They have her blessing or so it’s said so whatever. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to spend time with the pedo and the gifter wife and act like everything is normal. I think the whole Firm is scrabbling behind the scenes.

  27. Mel says:

    Why is this being made into a drama when it isn’t? Megan has a Mom who she does not live close to, Everyone in BRF can see Megan , Harry and the baby whenever, the Grandmother can’t. Megan has had a pretty crappy year and if her Mom is anything like my family when I go to visit them, you get to take it easy and you’re taken care of a bit. Also Grandma gets to be with the baby. It ain’t that deep.

    • Bookworm says:

      If they go to Doria’s normal house in a normal neighborhood, they will be overrun and hounded by press and paparazzi. I hope that’s not the plan.

  28. Mignionette says:

    The whole point of beating this dead horse of a story is to show that Meghan continually shuns family members i.e. blood family and Harry’s family. That has been the fail narrative from day 1 and likely why BP issued that statement to get ahead of it yet again.

    The reality is that Meghan has spent 2 xmas’s away from Doria and now it’s Doria’s turn. It is also Archie’s first Christmas and Charles does not appear to be a hands on kind of grandpa which explains why even Kate spent George’s first Christmas in Berkshire.

    But of course trash papers need to be sold and the baying masses need their pound of Meg flesh….

    • Tourmaline says:

      Yes, it definitely is a talking point for some royal reporters/tabs that Meghan is someone with barely any family or her own whom does not know how to have family relationships. Still grossed out by the comment from a so-called senior royal courtier in a Richard Kay DM article recently that it would be perfectly fine if Meghan was forgoing Sandringham to spend time with her dear father Thomas Markle.

    • Loved, loved loved Mignionette Comments above with:

      But of course trash papers need to be sold and the baying masses need their pound of Meg flesh….

  29. notasugarhere says:

    ‘William and Kate, who share Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 18 months’

    That insider line with the word ‘share’ sounds like W&K have *consciously uncoupled* and are spending the holiday together for the children.

  30. vanna says:

    not wanting to threadjack but since the british papers just threw those numbers out: Prince Andrew has been renovating his Royal Lodge for 7.9m over the last few year. Interessting that no one cares about that.

    • VS says:

      Oh no they don’t…….they only care because the biracial duchess lives in one of the renovated homes. For the white ones, they don’t really give a damn about the ‘taxpayers’

    • Tourmaline says:

      Interesting indeed, I believe that is the home that the “Duchess of York” who has been divorced from Andrew since 1996 bunks at, without much censure at all as to why she should still be parked on royal property.

  31. kelleybelle says:

    They have her blessing to do it! This is tabloid nonsense I’m sure.

  32. Jaded says:

    I have a feeling Meghan and Harry knew what was coming down the pipe vis-a-vis Prince Pervert and got outta Dodge in the nick of time.

    • Pineapple says:

      Seriously, could our girl Meghan be SO media savvy that she missed out on being associated with The British Royal Family during all of the Prince Andrew “child rapist” situation? Could she be THAT good? I am so, so curious about that. Either that or the Universe was like, Harry and Meghan … I am giving you a freebie. XO Here’s a bonus for all the racism you have had to deal with.

    • Mignionette says:

      OKAY peeps VERY TIN FOILY HAT post so bear with me here….

      Is it possible that Meg learned about Andy’s predilections early on when she joined the family, clearly did not approve and that spooked some RF members incl Bill. That then led to Andy’s wariness/ dislike of Meg => Andy/ Fergie smearing of Meg to step into line. Remember all the stories of the York adjacent PA (via Robbie Williams) who suddenly quit just after the wedding. Is it possible the PA was planted as a York/ Williams family friend to keep an eye on Meg?

      As we have come to learn RR’s often speak in riddles and sub-text, especially when there is a juicy story they can’t disclose for threat of legal action. There was also a rumour that Bill leaked on Andy to the RRs to stop his Rose Bush being exposed. It is also possible that Bill leaked but made it look like Meg/ Harry…

      So is it possible that the RR’s got wind of the fact through their source Billy that Meg doesn’t get one with Andy and through all the leaky fragments from various RF members they decide to dig a little further cue the stories about Tiara’s from Andy to distract from the real subject matter. It’s clear to anyone that Meg is idealistic and very into women’s rights and even openly backed MeToo. I am sure the RRs would have caught that and knowing what they knew about Andy (some via hacking) they would have worked it out.

      And alongside that Julie K Brown of the Miami Herald is doing her digging….then Epstein dies and the ensuing mess…

    • Tourmaline says:

      Well yeah, it’s been known for at least 8 years what Prince Andrew got up with regarding Jeffrey Epstein, with the furor over the Central Park photo of them together. Then the specific accusations from Virginia Giuffre and the incriminating photograph of her with Andrew came out about January 2015. It flared back into the public eye when Epstein was arrested and charged with more crimes this summer and then died in jail.

      But I wouldn’t think Meghan and Harry would need to be some kind of royal sleuths to know Andrew was sleazy. Everybody with sense knew that.

  33. Le4Frimaire says:

    I think that the Queen has a lot more to be disappointed about than the Sussexes spending Xmas with Doria. I’m just glad that news came out early before the whole Andrew disaster. They would be stuck at Sandringham if they didn’t announce it when they did. It’s small news now and looked like a good idea. Won’t be surprised if there will be meetings regarding their role in lieu of this Andrew mess but hope they don’t dump his patronages into them. I’m sure all the Royals will be banned from giving tv interviews in the near future.

    • Beach Dreams says:

      Oh absolutely. I imagine the Queen/Charles/the courtiers would’ve tried to deter them from skipping Sandringham otherwise. I also imagine that the Cambridges might also have liked to be with the Middletons, but the absence of both couples was probably unacceptable…doubly so now that Andrew f’d up.

  34. MsIam says:

    Us Weekly and InTouch are full of it. I think one of them had this elaborate story of how Meghan and Kate fought while they were at Balmoral and Meghan stormed out of the room and refused to eat with Kate! Unfortunately for them, it was later announced that Meg & Harry never even went there this summer. Of course, no retraction or correction.

  35. phlyfiremama says:

    I’m putting on my conspiracy theorist tinfoil hat to say that in addition to the bigotry and intolerance that is clearly part and parcel of the bejeweled inbred hillbillies, the ADDITIONAL reason that the head hillbilly won’t step up to defend her Grandson is that…he isn’t actually HER Grandson; Harry is the son of James Hewitt~seriously, he looks JUST LIKE him. While unable to admit that truth to the world for “royal” reasons, that is why NO ONE ELSE in the Klan has stepped up to defend Harry and Megan from the non-stop attacks when CLEARLY they had the power to do so, as is obvious over this whole randy andy pedophile mess. Now, they will be trying to backpedal so fast in order to get the ONLY ROYALS PEOPLE STILL ACTUALLY LIKE to come play “happy family” purely for the optics. Ooops. Too late~everyone sees you for EXACTLY who you are now.

    • Beach Dreams says:

      Nah, as Harry gets older he has a clear resemblance to Philip. There’s a photo of a young Philip in military uniform and it’s almost like looking at an old-school version of Harry. Not to mention he takes more after Charles in looks (especially the eyes). whereas William takes after Diana.

      • Le4Frimaire says:

        &beachdreams, Agree. Harry is such a Windsor in looks. He has Charles eyes, even the spacing, and looks like Philip. His coloring is Spencer but he resembles his father. He also has a bit of the Royal arrogance as well, even though he is a nice guy.

    • Lurkmode says:

      Harry looks just like Charles, just with red hair. Just draw some red hair and a beard on Charles and you get Harry.

    • Olenna says:

      No need to wonder why Harry has such disdain for the press. People are still repeating old unfounded and insensitive rumors about his parentage that were spread the tabloids. It’s not hard to imagine how protective and concerned he is about Archie having to deal with the same type of garbage being said about him. I guess he’s supposed to be a ‘chip off the old block’ about it and carry on like that sh*t isn’t hurtful and humiliating.

    • Megbot2000 says:

      Diana didn’t meet Hewitt until *after* Harry was born.

  36. JanetFerber says:

    I’m so glad Harry, Meghan and Archie will be with Doria. The Queen is trying to distract attention from her favorite son, maybe hoping the taint will settle on others besides her special darling. Well, that’s happened anyway. Meghan and Harry should do what will make them happy and I’m sure it’s being with a supportive, loving, straightforward mom (and mom-in law). I’ll leave it at that.

  37. blunt talker says:

    The Queen’s disappointment should be her son Andrew and how she contributed to his problems by covering up his misdeeds and not getting him help when he was younger. I know people from Andrew”s time did not discuss mental help issues they just covered them up. The Queen should let Harry and Meghan enjoy some down time out of the spotlight because this Andrew story will need all of them at the beginning of the new year to pull together. If the Queen truly loves Harry, then she should be happy to see him happy at an important stage in his life. If he and his wife need some down time from the spotlight then she should be happy to let them have it to prepare for the long workyear ahead.