Meghan and Harry to Miss Out on Queen’s Christmas Lunch at Windsor Castle

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, are set to miss out on the Queen's Christmas lunch at Windsor Castle next week.

The couple won't be in the country as they are residing in California with their two young children, Archie and Lilibet.

Furthermore, the travel restrictions due to the spread of the Covid Omicron variant make it unlikely for them to attend the event.

Around 50 members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are expected to gather at Windsor Castle next Tuesday for the Queen's Christmas lunch.

The extended family will enjoy wine, crackers, and a feast inside the castle, ahead of traditional festivities that will be hosted over Christmas at Sandringham, Norfolk, by the Queen.

Last year, the Queen's lunch with the Firm didn't go ahead because of the pandemic, but moves to cancel the event for the second year are being resisted.

However, it seems that Meghan and Harry won't be able to attend this year's event.

It will be the Queen's first Christmas without her husband Prince Philip, who died in April at the age of 99.

Her Majesty is still going ahead with her Christmas plans, despite the surge of Omicron cases.

She will host an evening with wine, crackers, and a feast inside the castle with extended family before going to Sandringham, Norfolk, for Christmas itself.

The monarch's plans to host Christmas Day at Sandringham before going to St Magdalene Church are also reported to go ahead.

It is understood that three of her four newest great-grandchildren, August, Lucas, and Sienna, are expected to be at the party.

A source told that currently, the Queen's plans are going ahead, but it will be under review right up until the last moment.

The party has reportedly been moved from Buckingham Palace to Windsor, where the Queen currently resides.

An insider has told that the Queen doesn't want anything to get in the way of such an important family event.

Concern for the Queen's health has been heightened in recent months after she pulled out of a number of major engagements.

Her Majesty was resting under doctor's orders at Windsor Castle after getting injured nearly last month and in October spending a night in the hospital for an unconfirmed condition.

Meghan and Harry spent their first Christmas with baby Archie at a luxury Canadian lodge.

The couple chose to spend the festive period on Vancouver Island as opposed to staying with the rest of the royal family at Sandringham.

Meghan, 38, and Harry, 35, were also joined by the Duchess's mum Doria Ragland, who briefly lived with the couple when they first brought Archie, now seven months old, home to Frogmore Cottage.

The Duchess of Cambridge shared many interests with the late Prince Philip, including their love of sports.

Kate was a hockey team member in high school, and according to her school pal Gemma Williamson, the Royal was particularly good at it.

Hockey was also one of Prince Philip's many hobbies, along with gardening, sailing, and flying.

It is unlikely that Meghan and Harry will be able to attend the Queen's Christmas lunch, but the extended family will still gather at Windsor Castle.

The Queen is determined to go ahead with her Christmas plans, despite the surge of Omicron cases, and it will be her first Christmas without her husband Prince Philip.