Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have declined an invitation to spend Christmas at Althorp, the ancestral home of Princess Diana’s family, due to ongoing security concerns for their children, according to inside sources.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reluctant to bring their children into what they perceive as a potentially dangerous situation in the UK, which Prince Harry previously confirmed in an interview.
He told ITV earlier this year: “All it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read.
“And whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is, these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”
A source has now told The Express: “Harry is keen for the Sussexes to spend time in the UK this Christmas with family. However, there are still concerns lingering over their security.”
The couple are understood to have not received an invitation to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for their annual Christmas gathering.
Prince Harry’s recent visit to the UK included a stay at Althorp House, where he was hosted by his uncle, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer.
This visit occurred in August when Harry attended a memorial service for Diana’s brother-in-law, Lord Robert Fellowes.
Earl Spencer invited the Sussexes to stay with his family at the Althorp estate, according to insiders
PA
Despite these family connections, the duke is set to continue his legal battle against the Home Office over his security arrangements in Britain.
A two-day hearing is scheduled for April next year, marking the latest development in Harry’s three-year dispute with the British Government regarding his protection.
The invitation from Charles Spencer to spend Christmas at Althorp, while declined, suggests that some family ties remain intact.
However, the couple’s persistent security concerns appear to be a significant factor in their decision-making regarding UK visits, particularly when it involves their children.
While Prince Harry has maintained some familial connections, as evidenced by his stay at Althorp in August, the broader relationship with the Royal Family remains strained.
The absence of an invitation to Sandringham and their exclusion from the Balmoral summer summit further underscores this tension.
The overarching security issues continue to be a significant barrier to the Sussexes’ presence in the UK, affecting not only their relationship with the Royal Family but also their ability to engage with Princess Diana’s side of the family.
