King Charles Invites Princess Beatrice And Princess Eugenie To Sandringham This Christmas
According to reports, King Charles has invited his nieces to spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham, where he will be joined by Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. But will Beatrice and Eugenie actually attend?
The sisters skipped the Christmas carol service, reportedly out of concern that their presence might draw too much unwanted attention and pull focus from the Princess of Wales. And according to the Mail on Sunday, an insider claims that they're feeling similarly conflicted about the Sandringham invitation, describing the situation as a "logistical and emotional nightmare."
"Beatrice is feeling particularly under pressure as she feels she 'has to be in three places at once' on Christmas Day," the source said. This could be a reference to juggling time over the holidays between Sandringham, her home in the Cotswolds with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, their children, and her mother Sarah Ferugson, and potentially Royal Lodge with her father, for what is looking very likely to be his final Christmas there.
The source went on to say that Princess Beatrice feels compelled to spend time with her father "despite his fall from grace over the Epstein scandal."
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Reportedly Won't Be Spending Christmas With The Royal Family
While King Charles has extended an invitation to his nieces, the same currently can't be said for his estranged youngest son, Prince Harry, as neither he, nor wife Meghan Markle or their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have, as far as we know, received an invitation to Sandringham.
That could still change, though. Some recent reports suggest the King may want to do things differently this year, amid concerns this could be his final Christmas due to ongoing health issues. An insider told Us Weekly that King Charles "knows his time is precious" and "wants a special last Christmas in case it's his last."
But while the Sussexes may not be there in person, Rob Shuter's ShuterScoop reports that Prince Harry and Meghan plan to call King Charles over Christmas, which definitely counts as huge progress. An insider reportedly said: "They won't be there in person, but they will be in touch. It's important to Harry that his father hears from him on Christmas."
King Charles Wants This Christmas To Be 'Extra Special'
Royal commentator Amanda Matta reportedly told Fox News that "the idea that he wants this Christmas to be 'extra special' makes sense – not because it's necessarily his last, but because he's acutely aware of time and legacy."
Matta added: "For the royals, the unique blend of tradition and togetherness at Christmas acts as a reset button… No one really knows the full extent of Charles' health struggles, other than the fact that they are ongoing."
"After such a turbulent year – with family rifts, Andrew's removal from royal duties, and his own ongoing treatment now dragging into its third year – it's understandable that he'd want to make this Christmas feel especially meaningful," she concluded.