King Charles Snubs Harry While Inviting Stepson Tom Parker Bowles for Christmas
King Charles appears to have made his stance on Prince Harry’s position within the royal family clear by excluding him from this year’s Christmas celebrations at Sandringham while inviting Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, to join the festivities.
Royal expert Richard Eden addressed the decision on Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential, noting its deeper implications. “It is very significant the fact that Tom will be there, perhaps his sister Laura as well, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet,” Eden remarked.
“Tom said his mother often suggested he join them, but he’d always said no,” he continued. “To have the King’s stepson there, but not his son, is significant.” The invitation comes as Tom Parker Bowles himself opened up about his plans to attend Christmas with the royals.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the food writer shared that Queen Camilla had extended the invitation, making it the first time in years they would spend the holiday together. “My mum said, ‘I’d love you to come, I haven’t had Christmas with you for a long time,’” Tom revealed.
He humorously compared this year’s royal gathering to his usual Christmas routine. “For the past 15 years, it has been: I go back to my ex-wife’s house, sit in my tracksuit bottoms, go to the pub while the beef’s in, then try to get my children to watch The Wild Geese. Classic. So this would be a bit different,” he joked.
The sharp contrast in invitations highlights the ongoing estrangement between Prince Harry and the royal family. Harry, who now lives in California with Meghan Markle and their two children, has remained at odds with his father and brother following his public criticism of the monarchy in interviews and his memoir, Spare.
The decision to invite Tom Parker Bowles while excluding Harry is seen as a clear signal of where King Charles’ priorities lie this holiday season. For Harry, the exclusion likely underscores the deepening rift within the family, while for Camilla, having her son at Sandringham marks a more personal and symbolic moment of unity.
As the royal family prepares for their traditional Christmas gathering, the absence of Harry and Meghan remains a telling reflection of the strained relationships behind palace doors.