'Golden Ticket' Rejected: Meghan Markle's Faux 'Festive' Plans Leave Prince Harry Pining for the Palace He Ditched

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's absence from the royal family's traditional Christmas celebrations at Sandringham has been confirmed by one royal insider to be a "snub."

Since relocating to California in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have established their own holiday traditions, focusing on intimate family gatherings with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. However, the fifth in line to the throne could be "growing bored" with the new-ish routine, the source spilled.

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward highlighted the contrast between Harry's past and present Christmas experiences. She described the royal festivities as the "golden ticket," filled with family present exchanges on Christmas Eve, church services, traditional lunches and the Boxing Day (December 26) pheasant shoot, all peppered with party games and merriment.

In their Montecito home, Meghan has shared insights into their Christmas plans, which include a sumptuous meal, fun games and possibly a musical singalong accompanied by a guitar. The couple has embraced American holiday customs per the Duchess' California upbringing, decorating their home and engaging in festive activities with their children.

Despite the physical distance, there are indications that King Charles III maintains a desire to connect with his grandchildren. Former royal butler Grant Harrold suggested that the King would likely connect with his estranged grandchildren through Zoom or FaceTime and send them gifts.

The Sussexes' decision to forgo the traditional royal Christmas gatherings, whether an invite was sent or not, reflects their "ongoing efforts to establish an independent identity separate from royal duties," the insider explained.

"Their focus remains on creating a nurturing environment for their children, blending royal heritage with new family traditions in their California residence," they said.

As the royal family continues its traditional celebrations at Sandringham until mid-January as suggested, the absence of Harry and Meghan underscores the evolving dynamics within the monarchy.

"While physical distances and personal choices have led to different holiday observances, the underlying familial bonds and the desire for connection during the festive season do still persist, just on Meghan's terms," the onlooker observed.

This follows a report from around the same time last year highlighting the former "party animal" Duke's disillusionment with Hollywood and American life.

"Being a royal is the only thing he is trained to do," royal author Tom Quinn told an outlet in February. "He knows that to retain his value and the interest of the world, he is better off not being a retired royal, so offering to come back to help out at least reminds the world who and what he is."

"Harry knows he will never be allowed to be a permanent part-time working royal staying six months in the States and then six months in the U.K.," the author observed. "The family no longer trusts him and, besides, Meghan is absolutely against it. There is far too much bad blood now for it to be even a remote possibility."

Daily Express reported on the expert comments.