Royal Family begins festive preparations amid uncertainty over the Duke’s attendance
The Palace has already begun preparations for the upcoming Christmas holidays, even with nearly two months to go before the Royal Family’s annual gathering at Sandringham. Each year, the royals come together at the Norfolk estate to celebrate the season and reconnect, including non-working members who rarely appear in public together.
However, this year’s celebration may look different. Reports suggest that Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have been told to remain “invisible” during the festivities, while it remains unclear whether an invitation will be extended to Harry and Meghan Markle.
Amid several recent challenges for the royal household, King Charles’s team announced that Sandringham House and its gardens have now closed to the public. A message released on Friday stated, “The House and Gardens are now closed to visit,” adding only that details for the “2026 season will be announced soon.” No timeline has been given for when the Norfolk residence will reopen.
The update follows reports that Harry is “unlikely” to return to the UK for Christmas. Sources close to him say that after his brief visit in September, the Duke has no current plans to make another trip — and if he does, it’s unlikely he’ll be joined by Meghan or their children, Archie and Lilibet.
