While this Christmas will be an unconventional one for most of us due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, it’s also going to be unlike any other for the royals.
While the Queen and Prince Philip will isolate away from family at Windsor Castle for the first time in over 30 years, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will spend it thousands of miles away in their new home in sunny California.
But despite the family being apart, royal expert Katie Nicholl tells Closer that she believes there will be olive branches extended between the fractured family, following major rifts with Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39.
The couple – who controversially stepped back from royal life earlier this year – have been mired in controversy, including a reported feud with Prince William and Kate Middleton. More recently, their decision to sign a multi-million pound deal with streaming service Netflix had caused tension with the Palace.
While Closer previously reported that Harry and Meghan’s move abroad had further strained the two camps, royal expert Katie now believes there’ll be peace talks to heal the rifts over the Christmas period.
Check out: All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana - slider
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The glittering Roland Mouret gown worn by Meghan at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil's Totem show was reminiscent of a Catherine Walker dress Princess Diana wore in 1990.
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Both Meghan and Diana chose a monochrome color palette for visits to Royal Ascot.
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It seems both royals are a fan of pairing red and purple. Princess Diana wore the combo a visit to Hong Kong in November 1989 while Meghan wore it on a visit to Birkenhead in January of 2019.
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In 1987 Princess Diana wore tartan at Bute Highland Games in Scotland and two decades later Meghan wore a Burberry tartan coat for an official visit to Scotland during her engagement.
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Meghan sheer pleated Givenchy skirt (which caused quite the controversy) and matching top may well have been inspired by Princess Diana's all-blue look from 1982.
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Both royal women are a fan of pinstripes, as seen by this pinstriped blazer worn by Diana in Sheffield and the buttoned Altuzarra dress Meghan wore at the Commonwealth Youth Forum.
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Even at the end of her royal duties, Meghan channelled Diana in her wardrobe. Just look at this green dress and matching hat worn by Meghan on Commonwealth Day compared to Diana's Trooping of the Colour dress and hat from 1982.
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At the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, one of the very first times we saw Meghan and Harry in public together, Meghan and her cali-girl vibes looked very similar to an outfit Princess Diana wore while in Bosnia.
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Not ones to shy away from colour, Princess Diana and Meghan also both know just how amazing a simple white dress can look.
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Both have sported tailored blush pink dresses. Princess Diana wore a Versace coat dress in 1995 while The Duchess of Sussex wore a modern take on the trend when visiting the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at Southbank Centre in London.
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Meghan's second wedding dress (a Stella McCartney design) was noticeably similar to a high-necked evening gown worn by Princess Diana at a reception at Spencer House in London.
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Meghan wore a stunning Safiyaa caped red gown o the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall that looked very similar to the red Jacques Azagury dress Diana wore to an American Red Cross dinner in 1997.
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The chic plaid suit that Diana wore while at Paddington Station in London in 1988 looks very similar to an off-the-shoulder structured shirt Meghan wore on a visit to Wales.
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The off-the-shoulder pink Carolina Herrera dress Meghan wore to Trooping the Colour was rather similar to Princess Diana's look worn at the Royal Ballet in Germany in 1987.
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At Commonwealth Day in March 2019 Meghan wore an emerald green Erden coat not dissimilar to the one worn by Princess Diana in 1982.
Katie says, “Harry has had Christmases overseas before, when he was serving with the Army in Afghanistan. And he spent last Christmas in Canada with Meghan, their son Archie, and Meghan’s mother, Doria.
“But this year’s festivities will be unlike any other he’s had. He’ll be in his new home, in a much warmer climate, and away from the family he’s spent so many Christmases with and their traditions. I imagine he’ll feel a little homesick and reflective.
“But there’ll be FaceTime chats on Christmas Day – Harry is in regular contact with the Queen and they speak regularly, so they’ll absolutely be video-calling his grandmother on Christmas Day. And the Queen will no doubt want to see little Archie, too.
“They’ll call his father, Charles, on Christmas Day too, and I would be very surprised if there wasn’t a FaceTime call between the Sussexes and the Cambridges. Despite all that’s gone on, they’ll make an effort at Christmas. The couple will check in with William and Kate, and Harry will want to speak to his nephews, George and Louis, and niece Charlotte.”
Since their move to the US, Harry and Meghan have thrown themselves into LA life and have moved into a £11.2million mansion, complete with a sprawling five acres of grounds and A-list neighbours including Ellen DeGeneres and Katy Perry.
And sources say the couple have planned a low-key day at home for their first Californian Christmas together, with Meghan’s mother Doria and a few close friends.
A source says, “Meghan and Harry are really looking forward to Christmas together with Archie in their new LA home. It’s going to be quite small, with Doria and just a few of their team who they’re really close to. The day itself will be a surprisingly simple affair, with Meghan planning to cook the Christmas meal. They have really settled into LA life and their new place – they love relaxing there, using their spa and walking around the gardens. They’ve been really happy these last few weeks self-isolating together in their little family bubble.
“A lot has happened since they left the UK, but they’re looking forward to speaking to family back home on Christmas Day, and showing off little Archie.”
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The couple’s festive plans are a far cry from a traditional royal Christmas, which usually features an extended family gathering at the Queen’s residence in Sandringham for a few formal days of festivities.
This year, due to the pandemic, the Queen and Prince Philip will stay at Windsor for the first time since 1988 and will not form a bubble with the rest of the family.
But royal expert Katie says Harry, in particular, will be missed for his cheeky sense of fun.
She says, “Despite the formality of the royal Christmas, Harry could always be relied on for making it a fun occasion – he’d always do something funny. He once put a whoopee cushion under Prince Philip’s chair and that set the tone for the lunch with hilarity and festive joy.
“While this year the royal Christmas will be different due to COVID-19, and the fact that the family members can’t all gather together under one roof, I do think the family will really miss his presence – and he’ll be missing them.”
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