Prince Harry's Hopes For A Family Holiday Were Reportedly Dashed By Meghan Markle's Pride

Two months after arriving in the United Kingdom, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have already made plans to return to the United States to spend the holidays with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. However, that's reportedly not what the Duke of Sussex wanted. According to insiders, Harry expected to use the festive season to get closer to his family. But waiting around to see whether or not they'd be invited to join the royal family at their traditional Christmas celebration at Sandringham is said to have been out of the question for the Duchess of Sussex. "Harry's very disappointed," a source told Closer in October 2026.

In Harry's mind, he and Meghan could have flown Ragland to the U.K. and made their own plans, keeping the door open for a get-together with the royals, or even Princess Diana's family. "Harry did his best to persuade Meghan they should stay, but she wasn't prepared to sit around and be humiliated, waiting to see if the royals would extend an invite," an insider shared. On the other hand, other sources highlighted that both Meghan and Harry knew an invitation to Sandringham was unlikely and made plans based on that possibility. "They also know they're not going to be invited, and they're not waiting for an invitation," an insider told The Times. 

Besides, some say even Harry believes it's too early to expect an intimate gathering of this sort when he hasn't met with King Charles III since the Sussexes' return to the U.K. in August 2026. "They know it would be too awkward and too difficult," the insider added. California, it is! And some argue the trip might shake Meghan's convictions.

Regardless of whether or not Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's plan to Thanksgiving and Christmas in California was a mutual decision or not, the trip might serve other purposes, as well. According to some, the Duchess of Sussex has been homesick since her return to the U.K., and might stay in the U.S. beyond the holiday season. "She's already saying a few weeks won't be enough," a source told Closer.

Meghan reportedly suggested that Harry return to the U.K. while she stays behind a little while longer with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. "[It] is just not anything like Harry is envisioning; it's pretty devastating for him that she's suggesting it," an insider explained. The claims come days after Meghan and Harry made their first official public engagement since returning to his homeland on October 15, 2026. Appearing next to her husband at a youth charity in Nottingham, Meghan told the crowd: "It's good to be back."

But behind the scenes, Harry and Meghan are said to be disappointed with how their move back was received by the royal family, especially after Charles' reunion with Archie and Lilibet over the summer. In fact, the Sussexes publicly noted their surprise after the king, just days following their arrival, clarified that the couple would remain private citizens with no formal ties to the royal family. "[They] were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance," their spokesperson said (via BBC). All of this is said to have Meghan questioning their decision to return altogether.