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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly decided not to spend the 2020 holiday season with the rest of the royal family.
A source close to the couple said that they do not plan to travel to the UK to celebrate Christmas with Harry’s side of the family. This decision means that the queen, age 94, and Prince Philip, 99, won’t get to see their 1-year-old great-grandson Archie.
“It is unlikely the Duke and Duchess will be traveling before the end of the year," the source told The Sunday Times. "There are no plans to travel at the moment, but any travel plans will be kept under review.”
The couple is likely concerned about health and safety risks involved with traveling from their California home to the UK amid the current pandemic.
The UK is currently on a country-wide lockdown in response to COVID-19, set in place by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. People are advised to stay home and private gatherings are prohibited.
The restrictions are scheduled to lift after December 2, so Christmas is unlikely to be affected.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would be permitted to travel to the UK to spend Christmas with the royal family if they chose, though the couple said it would be unlikely for them to travel.
The couple and their young son have spent most of the pandemic isolating in their Santa Barbara home.
The couple announced at the start of the year that they would be stepping back from their duties as senior members of the royal family. After this announcement, they moved to North America and eventually settled in their new California home.
