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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's 'important' reason for spending Christmas at home in California revealed
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly prioritized their children when they decided to spend Christmas at home in California.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex enjoyed the holiday with son Prince Archie, 5, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 3, at their home in the exclusive enclave of Montecito.
According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, the couple made the choice to stay home after declining an invitation to celebrate Christmas at Althorp House, the Northampton, U.K., estate owned by the late Princess Diana’s younger brother, Charles, Earl Spencer.
“Harry and Meghan were invited for Christmas at Althorp with thrice-married Uncle Charles, now Earl Spencer, but have decided to stay in California,” Seward told the Mirror. “Meghan says it’s important for her that Archie and Lilibet can have ‘connective memories’ of Thanksgiving and Christmas at home and enjoy the traditions like putting out ‘carrots for the reindeer.’”
PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE DON’T GET ROYAL CHRISTMAS INVITE AS KATE MIDDLETON POSTS HOLIDAY MESSAGE: REPORT
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to spend Christmas at their California home to create new memories and traditions for their children. (Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images)
Despite the rift between the Sussexes and the royal family, Harry and Earl Spencer have continued to share a close relationship.
Harry and Meghan have visited Althorp on multiple occasions over the past few years, and the duke’s uncle attended his nephew’s Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary service in London May 8.
“Meghan says it’s important for her that Archie and Lilibet can have ‘connective memories’ of Thanksgiving and Christmas at home and enjoy the traditions like putting out ‘carrots for the reindeer.’”
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, was reportedly the only other family member to join the Sussexes for their quiet Christmas celebration.
The pair declined an invitation from Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Earl Spencer, to celebrate the holiday at Althorp in England. (Dominic Lipinski/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Representatives for Harry and Megan did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
During a November interview with Marie Claire, Meghan gushed over her love for the holidays.
She noted that her children are now “3 and 5, so every year it gets better.”
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“At first, I think, as a mom with children, you’re just enjoying having them there, but they’re not understanding everything that’s happening yet,” the former “Suits” star said. “But now we’re at the age where I just can’t wait to see it through their lens every year.
“Every single holiday is a new adventure.”
On Dec. 16, Harry and Markle released their holiday card, which featured a grid of six photos. An accompanying message said, “On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation, we wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year.”
Included in those six pictures was a rare glimpse of Archie and Lilibet. In the family photo, Harry is seen bending down to greet his daughter with a hug, and Markle is seen doing the same with Archie.
Harry and Meghan shared a rare glimpse of their children on their new holiday card. (Getty/Archewell )
Earlier this month, People magazine reported the Sussexes did not receive an invitation from the royal family to join them at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk for their annual Christmas holiday.
Harry and Meghan haven’t spent Christmas at Sandringham with the royal family since 2018, the same year they were married.
On Christmas Day, King Charles III, 76, and wife Queen Camilla, 77, took part in the royal family’s traditional walk for morning mass at Sandringham’s St. Mary Magdalene Church.
They were joined by Charles’ son Prince William, 42, Kate Middleton, 42, and their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.
Other royal family members in attendance included Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, 74; her daughter Zara Tindall, 43; and Mike Tindall, 46. Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, 60, and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, also attended the service.
The royal family celebrated Christmas at Sandringham. (Getty Images)
The year has been a tumultuous one for the royal family. In February, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles was being treated for cancer, though it was not specified which type. Earlier this year, the monarch was treated for an enlarged prostate.
In January, Kensington Palace announced Kate had planned abdominal surgery. She was out of sight for several months, sparking speculation about her health.
In March, Kate put the speculation to rest by announcing she had also been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.
In September, Kate announced she had completed chemotherapy treatment. In a video announcing her progress, she said the path to full recovery would be long, and she would take it day by day.
She said she would undertake some limited engagements through the end of the year.
Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimston and Janelle Ash contributed to this report.
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We are reviving Curious Alaska, a popular feature launched by the Anchorage Daily News in 2021.
The idea is simple: You have questions. Our reporters find answers. We share them with readers.
Maybe you’re curious about a landmark (like the Parks Highway Igloo, pictured below), or a tradition, a news event or a public figure from the past. Maybe you have a practical question about everyday life in Alaska.
On our initial run, we tackled more than 30 topics that readers inquired about.
Some examples of reader questions we’ve looked into so far include why we don’t have a Trader Joe’s here, whether there are snakes in Alaska, why sand dunes exist in Kincaid Park and the story behind cattle herds on remote islands in the state.
No topic is too offbeat for you to pitch. We’ll choose a question at a time and try our best to answer it. Send in yours using the form below. (Having trouble seeing the form? Try here.)
Top moments from CNN California governor debate recap
Breaking down key takeaways, highlights, and analysis from the CNN California governor debate, including standout moments and candidate contrasts.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that newborn babies in California will start receiving free diapers as part of a new “first-in-the-nation” initiative to support families across the state with the rising cost of living.
Newsom, along with state leaders, met in San Francisco on Friday, May 8 to unveil California’s new partnership with Baby2Baby, a national nonprofit that provides diapers to children in need, and to explain how this new program will provide families with 400 “high-quality” diapers before they leave the hospital.
Over the last six years, families have seen the average cost of diapers increase by 45% or “thousands plus dollars a year,” which has made raising a family unattainable for some, Newsom said during the press conference.
“Every baby born in California deserves a healthy start in life — and that means making sure parents have the basics they need from day one,” Newsom said. “One out of four families skip meals in order to pay for diapers.”
“The biggest problem defined universally, in our cities, our state and our nation, is the issue of affordability. This is what affordability looks like; it’s not a slogan, it’s a box. A box of diapers,” Newsom added.
This new effort will be known as Golden State Start, as California uses its bulk purchasing power to obtain 40 million high-quality diapers in hopes of easing financial strain for families and supporting infant health by helping parents maintain an adequate supply of clean diapers.
“The first days at home with a newborn should be focused on the love, connection, and joy of an expanded family, not stress about affording diapers,” said Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “This program helps ensure families can begin that journey with greater stability and peace of mind.”
The program is expected to start at the beginning of this summer in participating California hospitals. The list of participating hospitals was not released at the time of publication, but Newsom noted that the state was in talks with at least 60 hospitals across California.
During the first year of the program, CalRx and Baby2Baby noted that they would prioritize hospitals that serve large numbers of Medi-Cal patients to ensure low-income families benefit early from the program. The state plans to scale the program to additional hospitals and birthing centers over time.
Newsom noted that this program is expected to grow: In 2027, the state is set to purchase 80 million diapers from manufacturers, with the goal of eventually purchasing up to 160 million.
“California families deserve to feel supported during one of life’s more exciting, yet vulnerable transitions,” Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the first partner, said in a press release. “Golden State Start will deliver immediate relief, allowing parents to focus on what matters most — caring for their newborn. Together with Baby2Baby, we can ease the financial burden on California parents while supporting healthier outcomes for babies and their mothers.”
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
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