EXCLUSIVE: Buckingham Palace aides have sent out feelers for this year’s Christmas dinner which will be held in the ballroom at Sandringham House due to the sheer number expected – but the Sussexes have not been invited.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be joining the royals this Christmas (Image: Getty)

King Charles and Queen Camilla have sent out their invitations for this year’s Sandringham Christmas gathering, Express.co.uk has learned.

However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been invited and are unlikely to travel to the UK this festive season.

According to a well-placed source, Buckingham Palace aides have sent out feelers for this year’s Christmas dinner which will be held in the ballroom at Sandringham House due to the sheer number expected.

“There will be a large number of people present at this year’s dinner,” said the source. “It was trialled in the ballroom for the first time last year and proved a big success so this year will be held in a similar fashion.

“There will be a buffet style roast served where members of the family can help themselves.

“It will include a traditional roast dinner spread with all the trimmings.”

Although Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, will not be joining the Royal Family this year, they have been extended an invite to spend the Christmas holidays with the Spencer family at Althorp.

The source adds that despite their invite to Althorp, it is unlikely that the Sussexes will head to the UK this December.

“Harry and Meghan are not going to spend Christmas with the Spencers or the Royal Family this year,” said the source. “It’s just not an option with the children at the moment due to what’s been going on with their security.”

However, although the Firm’s gathering will be minus the Sussexes, it will still be a large family affair as Queen Camilla has invited her children and grandchildren.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been ‘iced out’ by the Firm (Image: Getty)
Camilla, 77, has two children and five grandchildren of her own. Her son Tom Parker Bowles has one daughter Lola, 17, and a son, Freddy, 14, while her daughter Laura Lopes has a daughter Eliza, 16, and twins Gus and Louis, 14.

The source adds that although members of the Royal Family will congregate on the estate, not all of them will be staying there.

Prince William and Princess Kate will be staying at nearby Anmer Hall but will be in attendance for the family festivities.

Princess Beatrice is also set to appear this year and show off her baby bump – along with debuting her daughter Sienna.

According to a source, Bea, 36, will join her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, their three-year-old daughter Sienna and Bea’s eight-year-old stepson Wolfie for the celebrations.

Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.