Prince William likely to 'put his foot down' over Harry's Christmas plans as King considers olive branch

Griffiths said: “Well, not really, because they said it themselves in this statement. They haven't been invited!”

“And actually it was a classic Meghan and Harry sort of drip feed of information, wasn't it? Because it actually was a bit of a stab in the side saying, by the way, we haven't been invited. So it's hardly proof to Charles that he can trust these two not to leak out negative things about the Royal Family.

Patrick theorised: “Maybe this was a plan for them to say, ‘we would come if you did invite us’. And maybe this is them offering the hand out and saying ‘look, we would happily dine out on some Sandringham turkey or pheasants’ or whatever else they have.”

Griffiths replied: “They've deigned to show up to Sandringham this year. I mean, I get the impression they must need more material for their next documentary!

“But you know, I suppose they are saying the rift is slowly healing. We would show up, but it would be fantastically complicated for Charles, because could he really have William and and Harry in the same room on Christmas Day? Can you trust them not to leak things?

“You know, can everyone speak freely on Christmas Day if Harry and Meghan are there? It would be quite a complicated arrangement. So even if they might be available, as you say, in the next six weeks or so, quite a lot of moving parts would have to be arranged by Charles to get them safely and securely in an environment where there won't be sort of fisticuffs at dawn.”

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Security concerns around the Sussexes’ presence among royalty have been raised since the couple’s 2022 Netflix documentary and Harry’s autobiography, in which they released a number of bombshell claims including a physical fight between Prince Harry and his brother William.

Patrick asked: “Do you think that Harry and Meghan might turn up wearing a wire?

“I don't think they would do that,” said Griffiths. “But there was that rumour that they did turn up to a royal event wearing a wire once wasn't there. But that was never proved.

“I don't think they would now, you know, the Netflix documentary has been and gone. I just don't think they’d dare.”

Finally, Patrick asked whether Prince William would be likely to stand in the way of Harry’s plans to attend the royal Christmas celebrations, should the King relent and invite the Sussexes.

“I think it would be William. Absolutely,” Griffiths replied. “And I think if Charles did want to see Harry, he may well offer some sort of olive branch on that front, he won't be doing it on Christmas Day, at least not unless it's Carol Middleton's turn to host and William's not going to be there.

“I honestly don't think I can see William and Harry in the same room. I think William will put his foot down and say, ‘you can see Harry on Boxing Day, but you're not seeing him on Christmas Day, not if you want me there as well’. And he is the future king. And this is the whole problem. He will get the first invite over Harry.”

Patrick concluded with his own thoughts: “And so he should as well. You can't go around behaving like that, especially towards your own family, especially when that family happens to be the Royal Family, and expect for everything to be fine.”