Christmas planning can be tricky for any family, but particularly so when it's royal.
Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex have let it be known that they would like to be at Sandringham this Christmas.
Sadly for them, they haven't been invited.
On the face of it, the fact that Harry and Meghan have offered an olive branch to the wider Windsor clan - and specifically King Charles - would seem to be positive news.
A rapprochement between the two would signal the end of years of hostilities and put a stop to the damaging accusations that have poured forth from Montecito ever since Megxit in 2020.
Yet anyone who has paid even the smallest bit of notice to the royal soap opera may perhaps view that briefing with the modicum of suspicion that it deserves.
First, I understand that Harry and Meghan's PR team (and yes, it did come from them) let the Sussexes' desire for reconciliation be known in the full knowledge that there would be no invitation to Sandringham this Christmas.
Were they trying to bounce the royals into accepting the peace offering? Maybe.
And maybe Harry, in particular, really does want to make up with his beloved 'Pa', regardless of the fallout from their Oprah Winfrey interview, the Netflix documentary and the publication of his memoir Spare.
I understand the Sussexes are keen to maintain some kind of contact between Archie, four, Lili, two, and their grandfather.
This story is from the December 25, 2023 edition of WOMAN - UK.
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This story is from the December 25, 2023 edition of WOMAN - UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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