Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to Spend Christmas with Doria Ragland, Not Royal Family, After U.K. Move

Return to HomepageEntertainment: Darth Vader's lightsaber for saleNicolas Cage casting slipMichael Douglas's indiscretionHayden Panettiere's estateNew movies this weekend'Yellowstone' spinoffs'Other Mommy' jump scaresElla Langley cancels concertJessica ChastainFacebook movie controversiesPrince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the 2024 ESPY Awards in Hollywood, CaliforniaCredit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+PNEED TO KNOWMeghan Markle and Prince Harry plan to spend Christmas with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, PEOPLE has confirmed

The Sussexes, who moved back to the U.K. in August, would likely travel to California, where Doria lives, for the holiday

The plans would see the Sussexes spending Christmas apart from the royal family, who traditionally gather at King Charles and Queen Camilla's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are planning to spend Christmas with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, PEOPLE has confirmed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who returned to the U.K. in August and have since settled their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, into school, would likely travel to California, where Doria lives, for the holiday.

The couple also plans to spend Thanksgiving with Doria, with the location of both holiday celebrations depending on her preference.

The plans would also rule out a potential Christmas reunion with the royal family, who traditionally gather at King Charles' Sandringham estate in Norfolk for the holidays.

"They know it would be too awkward and too difficult. They also know they're not going to be invited, and they're not waiting for an invitation," a source told The Sunday Times.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day services with the royal family in December 2017Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty

Harry and Meghan last spent Christmas with the royal family in 2018, when they joined Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton for the traditional Christmas Day church service at Sandringham. Meghan, who was pregnant with Archie at the time, was photographed walking alongside Kate as the family made their way to St. Mary Magdalene Church. The couple has not joined the royal family for Christmas since.

Although Harry and Meghan are happy and settled in the U.K., there is still a long way to go when it comes to healing the rift with Harry's family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, joined King Charles, 77, and Queen Camilla, 79, for tea during a visit to Britain in July, but are not believed to have seen the King since. Harry and his father have remained in contact by phone.

However, the divide with Harry's brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, both 44, persists. The brothers are not in direct contact.

In September, royal historian Amanda Foreman described the brothers' rift to PEOPLE in stark terms: "At the moment, it has gone from being a hot war to a very, very cold war. But in a cold war situation, you still have to turn up to the Olympics."

Doria Ragland, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards on May 16, 2023, in New York CityCredit: Kevin Mazur/Getty

Harry has expressed a desire to reconcile with his brother, but those close to William and Kate say the wounds behind the estrangement remain deep.

"It was very hard on them, and I wouldn't blame William for being cautious," one close palace source said.

The news comes as Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, are finalizing plans for a day of engagements in Nottingham, England, on Thursday, Oct. 15. It will mark their first joint series of official engagements since returning to the U.K. in August.

During the visit, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will reconnect with causes close to their hearts, including a food bank where they plan to reunite with some of the women Meghan worked with at the Hubb Community Kitchen in London in 2018. The Duchess collaborated with the women on a charity cookbook while she was a working royal.

The couple will also visit the Community Recording Studio, which supports young people affected by violence. Harry has a longstanding connection to the organization and visited during a solo trip to Nottingham last year.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they visited Nottingham together in December 2017Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage

Their trip will also see the couple spend time at Epic Partners which supports young people through mentoring and sport.

Nottingham holds special memories for the couple — it was the place where they first visited after they announced their engagement in 2017.

After prioritizing helping their children settle into their new home and school, Harry and Meghan have begun stepping out more regularly.

On Oct. 7, Meghan enjoyed afternoon tea with her friend Malala Yousafzai at Claridge's hotel in London's Mayfair neighborhood. The outing came just days before International Day of the Girl on Oct. 11, when Meghan is donating profits from sales of jams and teas from her lifestyle brand, As Ever, to the education activist's Malala Fund.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Harry also enjoyed a sporting outing when he attended a rugby match between Leicester Tigers and Gloucester in the Gallagher PREM. The Duke was joined by his cousin, George McCorquodale, and was met with boos from some spectators when he briefly appeared on the stadium's big screen.