Prince Harry is expected to spend Christmas in the United States again this year, a decision that a royal expert believes may quietly deepen his father’s disappointment.
Despite family and tradition being a central theme of With Love, Meghan, the Duke of Sussex appears set on celebrating the holidays with his US-based family rather than returning to the UK. That choice comes even though he now receives a case by case security review when visiting Britain.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond shared her thoughts with The Mirror, pointing out the contrast between the message of togetherness promoted in the series and Harry’s apparent decision to stay away.
Bond noted that Harry has often spoken about how much he misses life in Britain. He has previously mentioned the banter, pub culture, old friends and family gatherings, and has said he wants his children to understand their British heritage. According to Bond, seeing images of the Royal Family making their traditional Christmas walk to Sandringham Church could still tug at his emotions.
That pull, however, may fade quickly. Bond suggested that once Harry is enjoying Christmas sunshine in California with his wife, children and mother in law, the appeal of a grey and damp Norfolk winter may lose its charm.
For King Charles III, the absence is likely to sting. Bond said there will probably always be a sense of sadness for the King when neither of his sons nor their children are with him at such a meaningful time of year. That feeling may be sharper given his ongoing cancer treatment and the fact that father and son only recently broke their long silence with a face to face meeting in the UK earlier in 2025.
Bond also highlighted a wider irony within the family. She noted that two daughters in law often speak publicly about love, kindness and the importance of family, yet the distance between William and Harry remains as wide as ever.
