Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s future in the US has been thrown into uncertainty following the recent re-election of Donald Trump, with the couple now facing the risk of deportation.
And as they plan for what may be their final Christmas in their Montecito home, a source reveals that they want to make it as memorable as possible for their children, meaning they won’t be travelling back to the UK.
Closer is told that Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, haven’t received an invitation to join the royal family at Sandringham for a second year in a row. It’s also believed that they’ve turned down an offer to spend the festive season with the Spencer family at Althorp.
‘This could be their last Christmas at home, so they will spend it together this year to make it extra special. Meghan’s mum Doria will join them at home in Montecito and they’ll ensure the children have a joyful day, despite not being around extended family,’ our insider says.
‘There hasn’t been an invitation extended to join the royal family at Sandringham this year. It’s not surprising as they didn’t expect an invite, and even if one had been offered, they would likely decline. They were also invited to spend Christmas with the Spencers at Althorp, but had to turn it down.’
While it’s no secret that the main obstacle to any visit back to the UK is the couple’s rift with the royal family, they’re also facing ongoing security issues with the Home Office. Harry has openly stated that he doesn’t feel comfortable returning with Meghan and their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, due to safety concerns.
He previously said, ‘All it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read. And whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.’
Our source explains, ‘Both Harry and Meghan agree that they shouldn’t return to the UK until the security arrangements are resolved. Until then, they will only travel to the UK for special occasions or pre-planned visits. However, once security issues have been finalised, it could cause issues between them. Harry is extremely keen to return more often, but Meghan doesn’t share the same affection for the UK as her husband.’
Last week, the couple missed out on Remembrance events in the UK, which were attended by members of the royal family including the King, Prince William and Kate Middleton. Instead, they filmed a video from California at the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia. Wearing poppies, they spoke of the importance of online safety for children.
While Meghan hasn’t stepped foot in Britain since the Queen’s funeral in September 2022, Harry has made a number of solo visits, most recently for the funeral of his uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in August. He’s next set to make a return in April for the final hearing in his legal case over his family's security arrangements.
And despite recently purchasing their new £3.6million villa in Portugal – which is located near Princess Eugenie’s summer residence – it seems they won’t be able to visit there any time soon either, as it’s not yet complete.
The insider says, ‘Europe could have been an option for Christmas if the villa was ready. Eugenie has offered her villa for their use during the holidays, so that’s an alternative, though Portugal isn’t widely known for winter festivities.’ They add that ‘one of the main reasons’ they purchased the property was to ensure that they had a residence outside of the US if Trump won the election.
Harry is currently entangled in legal proceedings over his US immigration status after admitting to past drug use – including cocaine, cannabis and psychedelic mushrooms – in his memoir, Spare, which could be grounds for his visa application to be denied.
While a judge recently ruled that Harry’s visa application will remain confidential, this could change under Trump’s presidency following his victory. Admitting he might consider deporting Harry over issues regarding his US visa status, Trump said back in February, ‘I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable. He would be on his own.’
Our source adds that Harry and Meghan have now been ‘sent into a spin’ over what it could mean for them. They say, ‘The Sussexes are genuinely concerned. They can’t safely visit the UK due to security concerns and now face the risk of being removed from America, which is an unsettling prospect for their family. It’s quite sad, as they’re running out of options on where to settle.’