Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, found themselves absent from both a behind-the-scenes BBC documentary and King Charles's Christmas address, marking what has been termed a "Sussex-free Christmas" by some observers.
The BBC documentary titled "The Coronation Year" provided a glimpse into the royal household's preparations for King Charles III's coronation in May 2023.
Prince Harry and Meghan Receive Major Snub from Royal Family for Christmas https://t.co/LE5z32BTWc
— IJR (@TheIJR) December 29, 2023
The couple, who stepped back from their royal duties in 2020, were not mentioned or featured in the documentary, highlighting a continued distancing from royal affairs.
During King Charles's Christmas address, there was no mention of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Instead, the monarch used the occasion to emphasize environmental conservation, drawing inspiration from the Nativity story.
The king spoke about the importance of protecting the Earth and our natural world, aligning the message with the Christmas story's focus on hope and simplicity.
Former Royal Editor of The Sun, Charlie Rae, described the lack of mention of the Sussexes as a "Sussex-free Christmas" and noted that there were no statements or pronouncements from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during the holiday season.
Rae highlighted the royal family's close-knit nature despite the challenges posed by the Sussexes and Prince Andrew.
Since relinquishing their royal duties, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have engaged in various projects, including a Spotify podcast, a Netflix show, and an upcoming autobiography.
Their endeavors have often involved public revelations and criticisms of the royal family's treatment of them before, during, and after their time as working royals.
Among their grievances, the couple has raised concerns about the alleged neglect of Meghan's mental health struggles, insufficient financial support for their move to Los Angeles, their relationship with the British media and purported comments about their child's race made by family members.
The absence of the Sussexes from royal-centric events reflects the ongoing complexities within the royal family dynamics, even as individual members pursue distinct paths.
The failure to mention Harry and Meghan during the holidays marked a major snub by the royal family. The move is part a growing and ongoing series of choices to leave out the couple after their move to America when the couple chose to abandon their royal duties in favor of America's freedoms in a move that continues to create controversy in the U.S. and in the U.K. in recent years.
