King Charles & Prince William ‘ban’ Prince Harry & Meghan Markle from the royal Christmas celebration

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly been “effectively banned” from the royal family’s Sandringham Christmas celebrations.

It’s understood King Charles and Prince William have uninvited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from the festive event as punishment for going against the monarch, according to a royal expert.

It comes after the couple, who returned to the UK in August after living in the US for six years, continue to involve themselves in royal-style public engagements.

Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, made a joint public appearance in Nottingham last month, where they visited charities and took part in a royal-style walkabout.

They are currently in Belgium attending several child digital safety events.

Royal expert and commentator Emily Andrews told Woman and Home that “despite their insistence that they’re royal, that they are ‘public figures’ undertaking royal-style engagements and are still members of the family, they have been cut off from a royal Christmas”.

She labelled the decision a “strong message” from the monarch and his heir, as well as “a quiet act of revenge”.

“After all, Christmas is a time for family, peace and reconciliation. But after the Sussex strategy to defy the Sandringham Summit and essentially stick two fingers up at the institution, what choice do Charles and William have?” Ms Andrews said.

A friend also reportedly told Woman and Home that there was “no trust” between Prince William, 44, and the Sussexes after they left their duties as senior royals in 2020 and made bombshell claims about the Royal family.

“The prince is concerned for his own family — he has to protect them and their privacy. Any conversation, any Christmas presents, any moment could be regurgitated for the Sussexes’ commercial profit,” the source said.

On September 7, King Charles issued a letter about the Duke and Duchess’ roles after they returned to the UK.

He said there would be “no change” to their current status and that their styles as His and Her Royal Highness “remain in abeyance and are not used”.

The letter also confirmed that the couple are no longer working members of the royal family, adding that their position is “akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests”.

However, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan issued a statement to the media hours later, revealing they had been caught off guard by Charles’ comments.

“We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance,” they said.

Harry and Meghan have been living in the Cotswolds with their two children Archie, seven and Lilibet, five.