Meghan Markle expected to attend Christmas at Sandringham

There is no doubt that the royal family will be dying to congratulate the newly engaged Prince Harry and fiance Meghan Markle.

And they will get the perfect opportunity to do just that when the US actress joins the family for Christmas at Sandringham.

It is thought that the 36-year-old will secure an invite to the traditional festivities following the announcement of the engagement.

Meghan Markle is expected to join fiance Prince Harry at Sandringham estate for Christmas this year 

Meghan was not invited to join the royal family’s celebrations last year with it considered unprecedented as the invite usually reserved for close family.

But with a wedding on the way Meghan is expected to be welcomed to the three day celebrations in the Norfolk home.

It would breakaway from tradition however, as Kate was not invited to join Prince William for Christmas in 2010 despite announcing their engagement a month before, however, it does seem to be on the cards.

According to Closer magazine, Meghan is ‘thrilled’ at the prospect of joining her Prince for Christmas.

A source told the magazine that Kate is willing to offer Meghan a hand to hold through her first experience.

 ‘Kate’s offered to put Doria (Meghan’s mother) up in a guest bedroom at Anmer Hall,’ said a source, in relation to the property on the Sandringham estate Kate shares with William.

The invitation from the Queen (pictured during last year's Christmas speech) is reserved for close family members 

The invitation from the Queen (pictured during last year’s Christmas speech) is reserved for close family members 

The royals enjoy a deeply traditional three day celebration from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day. Pictured: Members of the Middleton family arrive at church in Sandringham on Christmas day

The royals enjoy a deeply traditional three day celebration from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day. Pictured: Members of the Middleton family arrive at church in Sandringham on Christmas day

‘Kate was a bag of nerves the first time she did Christmas with the royals, so she knows exactly how daunting it must be for Meghan,’

If Meghan was to join the family at the Norfolk estate she would be welcomed into a Christmas steeped in tradition.

The royal family join the Queen and Prince Philip at their Sandringham residence from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day and everything from their arrival time to when they eat breakfast, walk the dogs, sit down to lunch and retire to bed is strictly timetabled. Even lunch on Christmas Day is pencilled in for just 50 minutes. 

Over three days, the royals celebrate a deeply traditional Christmas with a personal touch including ‘cheap and cheerful’ gifts given on Christmas Eve and a liking for charades.

Prince Philip leads the family on the 330-yard walk to the 16th Century church of St Mary Magdalene on Christmas morning. The Queen, however, is driven. The service is always about 45 minutes, the Queen having received Communion privately in the morning. 

The Royals enjoy bespoke Christmas crackers made by Dorset company Celebration Crackers. Everyone wears paper hats except the Queen. Party games are popular, as are cards.

For lunch on Christmas Eve, the men wear suits and the women wear smart silk dresses, but they change into black tie and glamorous gowns for dinner. It’s the one time the women wear their most expensive jewellery and almost all wear tiaras.

On Christmas Day, they come down for breakfast dressed in their church outfits – usually a day dress or a smart suit with pearls for the women. For the traditional walk to church, the men don warm overcoats. 

 

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