20 December 2023 , 13:25
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King Charles' first Christmas with his step-children will be "tinged with sadness".
The monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla will spend Christmas at Sandringham House, as per a royal tradition. But this year, the 75-year-old sovereign who has made it no secret he wants to change the monarchy has extended the invite to the Queen's children and their families.
Laura Lopes and Tom Parker Bowles are expected to be invited to the estate, along with Charles' extended family, with more minor members of The Royal Family reportedly being asked to stay in staff quarters. The guest list for this year's festivities has been "radically altered" to cater for their families, according to sources.
Christmas is expected to be 'tinged with sadness' for The Royal Family (Getty Images)But former royal butler, Paul Burrell, who worked for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales, believes this year will be very different for the King. It's expected that Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle and their children, Archie four, and Lilibet, two, won't be travelling from California to Sandringham.
Paul, 65, claims that Sandringham was like a "football match" while the late Queen was reigning due to the roars of laughter from the family. He also explained that the corgis would have a field day playing with the wrapping paper after the royals opened their presents on Christmas Eve.
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In a new interview, he told Closer: "I think the King is quite content with William, Kate and their children (George, 10, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, four) being at Sandringham and coming over to a spread a little fun. It's going to be a smaller, low-key Christmas. But like all families, there's always a tinge of sadness at Christmas time."
Meghan and Harry are expected to remain in California (Getty Images)He went on to add: "Thinking about the ones we've lost, or the ones who can't be with us. And the royal family are no exception, I'm sure they'll miss Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet this Christmas. It's sad." But, friends of Harry's told the Sunday Times that the couple "would love to" spend Christmas in the UK as Charles has never been with their children Archie and Lilibet during the festive season. However, they added: "I can't imagine the Sussexes would decline an invitation to spend time with His Majesty. As of yet, there have not been any invitations for the holidays."
While it is not confirmed who will be attending, it's expected that Anne, Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara Tindall, Mike Tindall and their children, Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, their parents Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York are also expected to attend.