Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are unlikely to ever receive another invitation to spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham, according to a former royal aide who knew Princess Diana well.
Speaking to OK!, Paul Burrell said the idea of the couple rejoining the family for festive celebrations is simply off the table. Asked what it would take for King Charles III to welcome Harry back into the royal fold at Christmas, Burrell was blunt. “That will never happen. I’ve always said it, and I’ll say it again: it will never happen.”
The comments come amid reports that Meghan and Harry were not invited to spend Christmas 2025 with the royal family. The California-based couple have not spent the holidays at Sandringham since 2018.
Burrell explained that the issue goes beyond strained relationships. He said the royal family’s Christmas works because everyone understands the unspoken rules, routines, and traditions that define those days. Introducing Meghan and Harry back into that environment, he argued, would upset a delicate balance.
“You have to consider the dynamics of everyone living under one roof,” Burrell said. Adding Harry and Meghan to what he described as a very particular royal mix would, in his view, lead to “a complete disaster.”
He went on to say that Meghan would struggle to fit into the established traditions, and that her presence would likely make others uncomfortable. Burrell also suggested that Harry himself would not enjoy the experience.
Looking ahead, Burrell does not believe the situation would change even when Prince William eventually becomes king. In his view, there is “simply no place for them at Sandringham anymore,” adding that the family no longer trusts the couple to keep private moments from becoming public.
As it stands, Burrell is clear: the door to a royal Christmas reunion appears firmly closed, now and in the future.
