Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are expected to spend Christmas in the US with their two children and Doria Ragland, according to a royal expert.

Royal expert Jennie Bond provided heartfelt reasons why Meghan might prefer a California Christmas

The holiday season is upon us, but whisperings suggest Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are likely to spend it away from the royal way in sunny California. Since establishing their new lives in the US back in 2020, it appears the Sussexes have a warm and intimate Christmas on the horizon, possibly declining UK invitations such as one from Charles Spencer, Harry’s beloved uncle, in favor of some stateside family moments.

Chatting with OK!, royal expert Jennie Bond provided heartfelt reasons why Meghan might prefer a California Christmas, stating: “I think most women like to be with their moms on Christmas Day. Given that Doria does not seem to have any other family she wants to share the festivities with, I think it’s a fair bet that Meghan will want to be with her and that would mean them all being in California. I don’t imagine that Doria would want to spend such a special time with people she barely knows – in other words the Spencers.”

Rumors are flying about Prince Harry perhaps joining his uncle Charles Spencer for a holiday at Althorp House—the former retreat of Harry’s late mother Princess Diana, which he hasn’t visited since August. However, it appears the couple is leaning towards a cozy Christmas with Meghan’s mother, Doria.

Despite his connection to the Spencers, Royal expert Jennie Bond thinks a visit to the UK is not on the cards, saying: “It’s nice though, to think that Harry might have an option to be with his uncle in the UK, although I have no reason to believe the Earl actually has invited Harry and family to stay,” reports the Mirror.

With regards to other holiday travels across Europe, the ex-BBC Royal correspondent doubts a Portuguese jaunt unless cousins Eugenie and Jack are in attendance. Although Eugenie and her husband started dividing their time between Portugal and Britain last year, Bond suspects “Eugenie will want to be with her mum [ Sarah Ferguson ] on Christmas Day.”

This potential absence would continue Meghan and Harry’s trend of opting to spend Christmases away from British soil, sticking instead to their Californian home.

Meghan hasn’t made a trip back to the UK since attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022. Royal commentator Jennie remarked: “All in all I think the chances are that Harry, Meghan, the children and Doria will enjoy Christmas in the sunshine in Montecito. It will probably be a time of some reflection for Harry – he has written about his nostalgia for times when his UK family were all together. But, as any parent knows, when your kids are rushing around, manically ripping opening presents and getting thoroughly over excited at Christmas, there’s not much time to think of anything other than keeping them happy and stopping them fighting. So, I reckon it will be a fun and sun filled Christmas in Montecito.”