The Christmas honour Meghan Markle is receiving that Kate Middleton didn't

Publish Date
Thursday, 14 December 2017, 8:30AM
Photo / Getty

Photo / Getty

Meghan Markle made history today after the Queen took the unprecedented step of inviting her to spend Christmas at Sandringham before she marries Prince Harry. 

The star, 36, will spend the festive period at Her Majesty's private estate in Norfolk even though Kate Middleton was only asked after she walked down the aisle with Prince William in 2011.

The Queen's invitation to the US-born actress is further evidence of the royal family's warm welcome for her ahead of the couple's May wedding at Windsor Castle, according to the Daily Mail.

Meghan, who will take British citizenship and get baptised by the Church of England before the wedding, will also attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham.

She and Harry, 33, who are now living together in a two-bed cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace, will also take part in the traditional walk to mass by the entire royal family.

Confirming the news today a Kensington Palace spokesman said: "You can expect to see The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Ms Markle at Sandringham on Christmas Day." 


Photo / Getty

It represents something of a break with tradition, as Kate was not at Sandringham on Christmas Day in 2010, despite the fact her engagement to Prince William had been announced to the world a month before.  

The couple got engaged on November 27 and a few days later a proud Harry introduced his bride-to-be to the nation during a series of official events in Nottingham. They are set to marry in May in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Buckingham Palace has said the Queen and other members of the royal family will join the congregation for the morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25.

Meghan's invite represents a break from tradition, however, as Kate was not invited to join the royals for Christmas in 2010 despite the announcement of her engagement William a month before. She spent her first Christmas with the Royals the following year. 

The question of an invite didn't apply to Princess Diana as she became engaged to Charles in February and they married in July the same year.  

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will also be in attendance this year, after opting to spend December 25th with the Middletons in 2016. 

William and Kate accompanied by Prince George, then three, and 18-month-old Princess Charlotte enjoyed a family get-together with all the trimmings at Michael and Carole's £4.7million mansion in Bucklebury, Berkshire, but joined the Royals in the New Year.


Photo / Getty

During a television interview to mark their engagement, Harry and Meghan revealed that the former actress had met the Queen. 

But if she has not been introduced to the rest of the family, the Christmas gathering will be the opportunity to chat to Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children and the Duke of York and his daughters, who are all expected to attend.

It is thought that William and Kate, who is pregnant with her third child, will stick with their policy of not taking their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, to the Christmas Day church service. 

The event usually attracts hundreds of well-wishers who watch the royal party walk from Sandringham House to the nearby St Mary Magdalene Church and make the return journey after the Christmas Day service is over. 

Members of the royal family usually go on an impromptu walkabout, chatting with local residents, and this could be another opportunity for Ms Markle to meet more of the British public. 

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

William and Kate have missed the royal celebrations once previously – back in 2012 – when Kate was pregnant with her son and suffering from an acute form of morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum. 

But they re-joined the family at the Queen's 20,000-acre Norfolk estate for Prince Philip's traditional Boxing Day pheasant shoot.

There is speculation that Harry and his bride-to-be may stay with the Cambridges at their nearby home, Anmer Hall. 

But if they are accommodated by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Sandringham tradition and formality – including daily visits to church and several changes of dress a day – will be the norm during the Christmas celebrations.

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. 

This article was first published on Daily Mail and is republished here with permission.

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