Harry and Meghan’s approach to Sandringham Christmas invitation is like a ‘school disco’, expert tells PALACE CONFIDENTIAL – as he suggests the Sussexes should make direct contact with the King
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s approach to Christmas invitations at Sandringham this year has been likened to an awkward ‘school disco’ encounter by a royal expert.
Richard Eden, diary editor of the Ny Breaking, added that the couple’s presence around the Christmas table could make matters worse as “trust is a very big issue” and warned that “any tensions will be visible to the photographers’ if they are present.
Speaking in this week’s Palace Confidential, Richard Eden, editor of the Mail’s Diary, took aim at the duo after claiming the pair ‘wouldn’t refuse’ an offer to join His Majesty over the festive period.
“This reminds me of the school disco, where if you’re not brave enough to ask a girl to dance, you say, ‘Oh, my mate likes you’ or whatever,” he said.
“We don’t hear directly from Harry and Meghan, we hear from friends.
‘So the story in the Sunday Times was that their friends let it be known that they would love to be invited to Sandringham for Christmas. I mean, come on, this isn’t a way to work, is it?’
He continued, “Maybe they can invite the king to California or something, but… we’re getting regular briefings now on what they say their friends are saying.
“I don’t know if it’s because they have these… Hollywood agents.”
The experts suggested that a better way to handle Christmas invitations was for the Sussexes to contact other members of the royal family directly and say: ‘It would be nice to see you this Christmas.’
He concluded: ‘Putting it out through friends, I mean, it seems really pathetic.’
that the conversation could be a ‘turning point’ in the difficult relationship between the Sussexes and the king.
However, Ny Breaking editor-in-chief Rebecca English stressed that it may not be the right time for the couple to so publicly “force” a reconciliation with The Firm.
“Every poll I’ve done… no one can tell me with 100% whether they’ll be there or not, but they said the plans are mostly in place now and they don’t seem to be coming to fruition,” she told it program.
“But it was made clear to me that they felt it was unlikely anyone would welcome them with open arms.”
She said that “trust is still a very big issue” because “so much water has gone under the bridge in recent years.”
Speaking in this week’s Palace Confidential, Richard Eden (pictured), editor of the Mail’s diary, took the duo to task after claiming the couple ‘wouldn’t refuse’ an offer to join His Majesty over the holidays ‘.
However, the Royal Editor of the Ny Breaking, Rebecca English (pictured), stressed that it may not be the right time for the couple to so publicly ‘force’ a reconciliation with The Firm.
‘People have repeatedly made it clear to me that it is not the case that the king does not want to build bridges with his son. At some point he will,” she added.
‘But they believe that steps need to be taken behind the scenes. And trying to get them involved in a big public event like Christmas at Sandringham will seem a bit forced.”
Rebecca explained that “all the tensions will be visible to the photographers as they walk to church on Christmas morning.”
“It just doesn’t seem like the right event,” she concluded.
Rebecca explained that “all the tensions will be visible to the photographers as they walk to church on Christmas morning.” The family pictured at Sandringham in 2018
Sources also told The Times that the conversation could be a “turning point” in the troubled relationship between the Sussexes and the king. Harry, Meghan and the late Prince Philip at Sandringham in 2017
The Mail on Sunday’s Royal Correspondent Natasha Livingstone added that tensions in the rift are being further fueled by the fact that the king rarely gets to see Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie and Lilibet.
“I think the fact that he is seeing more of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ grandchildren is very much linked to this,” she said.
“I mean, the fact that he has such a painful estrangement from his family – he hasn’t seen Archie and Lilibet in a long time, that has to be connected.”
She explained that the King’s new routine is to go to Windsor on Friday evenings.
“It’s close to the Prince and Princess of Wales,” Natasha added.
‘And he can spend more time with his grandchildren, something he loves to do and is of course well received everywhere.’
During the episode, Richard also noted what he said was the Duchess of Sussex’s “desperation to appear on camera.”
Richard also commented on an “undignified” moment when Meghan was “shoved” onto the red carpet at a Variety event she attended in Los Angeles earlier this month.
Queen Camilla and King Charles III pictured at a state banquet for South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee
The expert emphasized that had Meghan and Harry remained with The Firm, they would have been involved in the pomp and circumstance of this week’s glitzy state visit by South Korea’s president and first lady, which included VIPs such as the iconic K-Pop group Blackpin came to visit. Buckingham Palace
“She goes to a lot of events, usually other people’s concerts… or sporting events,” he said. “It’s not really things she does… it’s kind of strange.”
The expert emphasized that had Meghan and Harry remained with The Firm, they would have been involved in the pomp and circumstance of this week’s glitzy state visit by South Korea’s president and first lady, which included VIPs such as the iconic K-Pop group Blackpin came to visit. Buckingham Palace.
“We saw the full splendor of the monarchy during the state visit – they’re really going with it, and Catherine looks beautiful,” he added.
‘And if Harry and Meghan had stayed, they would have been an integral part of that. They are said to have waited for the President of Korea together with William and Catherine.
“Sophie wouldn’t have done that, that would have been Harry and Meghan as we saw in the past.”
Richard also commented on an “undignified” moment when Meghan was “shoved” onto the red carpet at a Variety event she attended in Los Angeles earlier this month.
“Normally these big names only show up when they’re receiving an award,” he said.
‘There was nothing special for her. But she was just kind of a celebrity on the red carpet.”