The Queen Breaks Royal Tradition to Do Meghan and Harry a Big Christmas Favor

Christmas is one of the Queen’s favorite times of the year, and a chance for her to host her ever-growing family at Sandringham. For Harry and Meghan it is set to be a particularly special Christmas, their last before welcoming a baby in the spring, and their first with both the royal family and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland.

According to reports, Meghan’s mother, who lives in Los Angeles, has been invited to join the Queen and the royal family at Sandringham in Norfolk, in what will be yet another royal first.

Usually only family members are invited to the Queen’s Christmas table, but Meghan was an exception last year, when she joined the royal family for Christmas even though she and Harry weren’t yet married. Now the Queen has broken with tradition once again by inviting an in-law to the family gathering, which is being seen as the ultimate act of kindness by courtiers who are expecting a record family turnout this year.

The Queen has invited all of her family members to join her at the close of another successful year which has included two royal weddings, a royal baby, a royal baby announcement, and a 70th birthday milestone. Sources close to Her Majesty, who is said to have bonded with Meghan over their joint love of dogs, say that she wanted to extend her Christmas invitation to Meghan’s mother so that Meghan wasn’t in an awkward situation over the holiday season.

“The Queen was very impressed by Mrs. Ragland when they met,” said a royal source. “The Queen knows that Meghan’s family situation is complicated and that the easiest way for Meghan and Harry to be together and with Doria, which is what they want, is for them all to join her at Sandringham where there is plenty of space. It’s not the norm but then things seem to have changed quite a lot recently.”

The royals have gone out of their way to welcome Meghan since the beginning of her relationship with Harry. Prince Charles gave the couple the keys to Birkhall during the early months of their romance, while William and Kate invited the newly engaged couple to stay with them at their home in Anmer last Christmas. Kate was pregnant with Louis at the time.

This year the Sussexes are expected to be guests in the main house at Sandringham along with other family members. The Queen is apparently keen for as many of her seven great-grandchildren as possible to be there. “She loves getting the family together and it’s so much fun with all the little ones,” said a family source. “The Queen hosted a very successful sleepover in the summer at Balmoral which she is hoping to repeat this Christmas.”

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Full ScreenPhotos:Everything Meghan Markle Wore on Her South Pacific Tour

November 1, 2018

Wearing a Givenchy sweater and skirt in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Photo: By Dominic Lipinski/PA Images/Getty Images.

October 31, 2018

Wearing Stella McCartney in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Photo: By Samir Hussein/WireImage.

October 31, 2018

Wearing a Norrøna ‘Oslo’ Puffer Jacket and Mother Denim jeans at the Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua.

Photo: By Kirsty Wigglesworth/Getty Images.

October 30, 2018

Wearing Antonio Berardi to a reception with the New Zealand prime minister.

Photo: By Phil Walter/AFP/Getty Images.

October 16, 2018

For the couple’s first appearance of the trip, Meghan paired a white dress by Australian designer Karen Gee—it‘s called “Blessed”, which feels pretty pointed toward her recent pregnancy news—with a beige trench coat.

Photo: By Karwai Tang/WireImage.

October 16, 2018

Meghan changed for an evening appearance into an olive green dress by Brandon Maxwell.

Photo: By Samir Hussein/WireImage.

October 16, 2018

Meghan wore a pair of butterfly earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana for both appearances on Monday.

Photo: Left, by Samir Hussein/WireImage; Right by Georges De Keerle/Getty Images.

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