Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will spend this Christmas apart from the royal family, as they have reportedly not received an invitation to the festive gathering at Sandringham, according to a source close to the situation.

The couple last celebrated the holiday with the royals in 2018, following their wedding. Since then, tensions appear to have escalated, and Harry, aged 40, and Meghan, aged 43, have increasingly been distanced from royal events. This extends to being left out of notable occasions, including the Trooping the Colour celebrations in June.

In May, during a trip to the UK for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, Harry tried to arrange a meeting with his father, King Charles III. However, reports suggest his attempts were unsuccessful as the King did not accommodate his request. Renowned royal expert Hugo Vickers commented on the situation, stating, “If the king wanted to see Harry, he would find time very easily. You can never be too busy to see your son.” The last meeting between Harry and his father took place in February, shortly after news of King Charles’s cancer diagnosis, but it was brief, lasting only 30 minutes.

The fractious relationship between Harry and the royal family, particularly with his father and brother, Prince William, has become a topic of public scrutiny, notably since their revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021. In that interview, they opened up about issues of mental health support and racial insensitivity within the family, igniting widespread discussions and criticism.

Adding fuel to the fire, Harry's memoir, "Spare," published in early 2023, provided further insights into the rift, as he accused his brother of jealousy and even physical aggression, allegations that William has denied. Experts believe that Harry anticipated the fallout from both the interview and the memoir, with some suggesting that he aimed to provoke a reaction from the royal family.

Analysts are now pondering what this latest snub means for Harry and Meghan's future standing within the royal fold. As public interest in their story intensifies, many are left wondering if reconciliation is on the horizon or if the divide will only deepen as the years pass. What does this mean for the dynamics of the royal family, especially in light of upcoming events and milestones? Only time will tell.