Christmas is almost here and even the royal family is rushing to get everything done before taking a holiday break. Prince William is heading to Kuwait Monday, Kensington Palace announced, without his family.
The sudden solo trip is so that the Prince of Wales can give the British royal family’s condolences to His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah following the death of the country’s ruler, His Late Highness Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. William is traveling on behalf of his father, King Charles III.
The British royals have close ties with the Kuwaiti royals, and His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the half-brother of the late ruler, has traveled to the UK three times in 2023, including to the coronation of Charles and Queen Camilla.
Christmastime is typically a busy, tradition-packed season for the royals. The family in modern years have exchanged gag gifts on Christmas Eve, and then traditionally walk together to church near their estate at Sandringham. Last year was the first holiday season since the passing of Queen Elizabeth, and the first reunion of the family at the holidays since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Though Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reportedly called Charles for his 75th birthday last month, sources tell Vanity Fair that relations are still so strained that there is “no chance” that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who relinquished their roles as senior royals in 2020, will be invited to Sandringham this Christmas.
“The king would love nothing more than to have Christmas with his sons and all his grandchildren, but it’s not that simple and there is no chance the Sussexes will be coming,” the source said.
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