Real reason Prince Harry is unlikely to want to spend Christmas at Sandringham this year

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not set to be on the guest list for a royal Christmas at Sandringham this year, with the couple and their children having reportedly not received an invite. While this may not come as a surprise for the couple, who haven't been working royals since 2020, it may be seen as another blow by Harry, who is still experiencing some rifts with family members.

However, although many may assume Harry, 41, will be upset by missing such an invite, this may not be the case. This is because while the Duke of Sussex has begun making amends with his father King Charles after a meeting last month, this is not the case when it comes to some of his other relatives.

This includes his brother Prince William, 43, with the pair reportedly not on talking terms.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, a friend of the Royal Family said that Harry's rift with his brother means that he probably wouldn't even want to be invited to Sandringham for Christmas, as it would be "very awkward".

The friend told the publication, "With things being so dire between William and Harry, I'm not sure Harry would even want to be at Sandringham for Christmas. It would be very awkward. He knows he'd probably get quite a frosty reception from most of the family."

The friend also said that while the King, 76, and his youngest son may have recently reconciled, it is not the case that Harry will be welcomed to events such as Christmas "with open arms" yet.

Although not officially confirmed by the Palace, it is believed Harry and Meghan, along with their children, are not the only ones that have been left off the Sandringham Christmas guest list.

This is because it is believed the King, who hosts the big day with Queen Camilla, has not invited his younger scandal-ridden brother Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who has also recently been caught up in scandals surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.

The pair are believed to have been uninvited from the Royal Family's Christmas celebrations as a result of recent revelations, including Sarah's 2011 email to the late convicted paedophile Epstein - an email her spokesperson said was sent out of fear Epstein would sue her for defamation.

Prince Andrew and Sarah did not attend Christmas at Sandringham last year, with the pair pulling out after it was revealed that Andrew, 65, had been friends with a suspected Chinese spy - a friendship the duke said ended when suspicions were first raised.