EXCLUSIVE: One royal expert shared why he believes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to be snubbed from the Sandringham gathering this year.

Meghan and Harry pictured at Sandringham in 2018

Meghan and Harry pictured at Sandringham in December 2018 (Image: GETTY)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to face a royal Christmas snub for one “terrifying” reason, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams.

It has been reported that Harry and Meghan have not received an invite to spend Christmas with the Royal Family at the Sandringham estate – an annual tradition also previously upheld by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Although they are not expected to be there, Mr Fitzwilliams said just the idea of it is “rather terrifying” due to how it would likely affect other members of the Royal Family.

He told Express.co.uk: “The idea of them spending Christmas with the Royal Family is rather terrifying. Not everyone is lucky enough to relax during the festive season, and if the Sussexes were there no one could.”

This year would mark the sixth Christmas that both Harry and Meghan have spent apart from the royals should the Sussexes not travel to the UK for the holidays. They last spent time at Sandringham in December back in 2018 – just seven months after they tied the knot in Windsor.

To mark their son’s first Christmas back in 2019, Meghan and Harry took Prince Archie, then aged seven months, to Vancouver Island.

By Christmas 2020, the family had moved to the US – where they now reside in Montecito, California.

Recently speaking to GB News, Charlotte Griffiths – who is the Editor at Large at the Mail on Sunday – claimed that, if Christmas in the UK were an option for the Sussexes, it would likely see only Harry travelling.

She said: “I do think Harry is going to come over to the UK more and more. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he came over at Christmas, but he will be coming on his own.

the royal family last christmas

Harry and Meghan are thought to have not been invited to Sandringham next month (Image: GETTY)

“I think there’s no way Meghan will come over. It might be that they spend Christmas in Portugal and he nips over to see the family.

Discussing Sandringham, she appeared to agree with Mr Fitzwilliam’s comment that the family would not be able to relax with Harry and Meghan present.

She added: “I don’t think he’s usually invited to Balmoral. They don’t feel they can relax when he’s at Balmoral with them, so I don’t think he’ll pop up there.”