Why Christmas could be tinged with sadness for the Royal Family this year

If the Queen hosts the festivities at Sandringham the gathering could come only weeks after potentially shocking revelations are made...

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend Christmas Day Church service
(Image credit: Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty)

It’s thought that Christmas could be tinged with sadness for the Royal Family this year as they prepare for a potentially shocking event. 


Families across the world have their own special Christmas traditions and The Firm is no exception, with plenty of intriguing festive customs surrounding the Sandringham reunion. From what the Royal Family eat on Christmas Day to Kate Middleton's risky gift for the Queen in 2011, there has always been plenty of intrigue surrounding the royal’s yuletide plans. December the Queen cancelled Christmas at Sandringham amid the rise of the omicron variant. 

This year, she will likely be hoping to return to her beloved Norfolk home to host the traditional gathering for the first time since the pandemic. Though according to recent reports, the Royal Family could be facing a Christmas tinged with sadness in just a few months and it’s all down to an upcoming event…

Queen Elizabeth II attends Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene

(Image credit: Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

For many months now royal fans have been anticipating the release of Prince Harry’s memoir on which he is being assisted by ghost-writer J.R. Moehringer. The book will be published by Penguin Random House and according to The Sun, it’s reportedly set to hit the shelves in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas market in the US.

“The manuscript has been finished and gone through all of the legal processes,” a publishing source alleged. "It’s done and out of Harry’s hands. The publishing date has been pushed back once but it is on track for the end of the year.”

Penguin Random House previously announced a global publication date of “late 2022” and if the source is correct, then it seems things are going according to plan. But this might come as less welcome news for some of Harry’s family.

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In the months since this memoir was announced, reports have suggested Harry’s new revelations could "shake the Monarchy to its core". It’s also been claimed that though Harry is “going out of his way” not to insult his grandmother in the book, the Queen is “extremely concerned” about it. Whilst Prince Charles reportedly fears it will “publicly blame” Duchess Camilla for his childhood.

Described an “accurate and wholly truthful” account of his life, Harry revealed on the Archewell website that it will cover the “highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned”. 

Since Harry and Meghan “stepped back” they haven’t spent Christmas with the royals, though it’s possible they will this year if the Queen does host at Sandringham for the first time since the pandemic. Whether or not the Sussexes are there, it could potentially be tinged with sadness depending on what emerges in the book.  

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast

(Image credit: Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

If shocking revelations are made, they could possibly spark upset or distance between family members ahead of the Christmas period. This could in turn potentially make a traditional Sandringham gathering a little more challenging if the account presented by Harry’s memoir isn’t supported by everyone.

However, with the Queen marking her Jubilee year, many fans will no doubt be hoping Christmas does see a more joyful reunion of the Royal Family at Sandringham in December.

Emma Shacklock
Senior Lifestyle Writer

Emma is a Senior Lifestyle Writer with six years of experience working in digital publishing, ranging from book publishing to magazines. She currently looks after all things Lifestyle for Woman&Home, Goodto.com, and My Imperfect Life.