Advertisement

Queen to 'break tradition' by including Meghan’s mum at Christmas

Christmas for the royal family is a very exclusive and traditional affair where guests only attend if they receive an invite from the Queen herself.

And while typically these invitations are reserved only for members of the royal family, it seems this year the Queen is willing to make an exception by extending an offer to Meghan Markle’s mum Doria Ragland.

Meghan Markle’s mum Doria Raglan may be invited to attend the royal family’s exclusive Christmas at <span>Sandringham.</span> Source: Getty
Meghan Markle’s mum Doria Raglan may be invited to attend the royal family’s exclusive Christmas at Sandringham. Source: Getty

The invitation for Doria to spend Christmas at Sandringham, the Queen’s country estate in Norfolk, is said to be so that Her Majesty can ensure ‘family harmony’ over the holiday period.

“She (the Queen) simply will not allow Meghan to feel unwelcome,” a courtier told the Daily Mail.

“Even at her great age, she is putting a lot of effort in to ensure there is family harmony.”

The Queen is said to have made an exception this year by extending the invitation out to Prince Harry’s mum-in-law Doria Ragland. Source: Getty
The Queen is said to have made an exception this year by extending the invitation out to Prince Harry’s mum-in-law Doria Ragland. Source: Getty

In the past, only spouses and fiancés have been invited to Sandringham for Christmas – never before has the Queen invited in-laws to attend, including Kate Middleton’s family.

Yet according to a royal source, “It’s a mark of the Queen’s respect for Meghan and an acknowledgement that she doesn’t have any other relations in this country – unlike Kate who has the support of a very close family,” the Express.co.uk reports.

Doria was the only member of Meghan’s family to attend her wedding and support her transition into the royal family, and now the birth of her first child with Prince Harry.

The gesture comes after Doria has been the only member of Meghan’s family to support her transition into royalty. Source: Getty
The gesture comes after Doria has been the only member of Meghan’s family to support her transition into royalty. Source: Getty

However, while the invitation to join the royals at Christmas would come as a touching gesture, there is still speculation as to whether Doria will actually attend or not.

Speaking to Yahoo UK’s The Royal Box , royal correspondent Victoria Murphy explained, “My understanding is that she’s not going.”

“I don’t think that’s because they weren’t able to or anything like that, I just think it’s not usual for in-laws to go.

“I know it was suggested that she was going to go, but that was never confirmed,” she added.

However, there is speculation as to whether Doria will attend or not due to tradition. Source: Getty
However, there is speculation as to whether Doria will attend or not due to tradition. Source: Getty

Got a story tip? Send it to tips@oath.com
Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Or sign up to our daily newsletter here.