As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle take a break from their duties, sources say “no one” in the Royal Family is “checking in, texting or speaking to” them.
WATCH: Prince Harry forces cameraman to back off
“There hasn’t been this complete 180,” a source told People of relations between the Royal Family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. “Nothing has changed. They don’t speak, no one is checking in, no one is texting.”
It was recently reported Prince William was “concerned” for his younger brother and hoped he and Meghan were “all right,” after they opened up about struggling with royal life and public scrutiny in the explosive ITV programme Meghan and Harry: An African Journey.
What’s more, Kate Middleton had reached out to Meghan and was “doing her best to bring everyone together and help her,” author and former royal correspondent Phil Dampier told Express.
However, relations between Meghan and Harry and the rest of the Royal Family don’t appear to be improving.
Others have suggested Prince William’s position as the future king has created never-ending tension with Prince Harry.
“There is going to be some competitiveness between him and Harry. That already puts a rock in the relationship,” a source said, according to The Daily Mail.
Meghan and Harry are taking an unusual six-week break to regroup over Christmas and will forgo the Royal Family Christmas at Sandringham.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking forward to extended family time towards the end of this month,” Buckingham Palace announced in a statement to royal correspondent Omid Scobie.
“Having spent the last two Christmases at Sandringham, [the couple] will spend the holiday this year, as a new family, with the Duchess’ mother Doria.”
Royal experts believe their decision shows there is a “deep rift.”
“It’s very hard to see this as anything other than a snub to the Queen and the rest of the royal family,” Phil Dampier, told MailOnline. “If Harry and Meghan wanted to heal the divisions they should have turned up at Sandringham. It’s a great shame but there seems to be a problem which is getting worse, not better.”
“I don’t buy it’s the turn of Meghan to spend Christmas with her family. She’s only close to her mother and they will see plenty of her during their six-week break. I’m sure that the Queen would be happy to invite Doria to Sandringham to join them,” he continued.
While Queen Elizabeth II has publicly given her support, royal sources told The Daily Mail that she was unaware of their Christmas plans until Prince Harry called her at Buckingham Palace last week to decline her open invitation.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward argued that their decision is a sad one considering the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are “in their dotage.” Her beliefs may not be far off, as it was recently alleged Prince Philip hasn’t “felt so energetic” for a few weeks and had “a bit of a wobble” recently.
“The Queen might be a little hurt but she’s far too gracious to ever let it show or be known,” she told The Sun.
As Meghan and Harry spend their first Christmas with baby Archie away from the royal family, many are left wondering they have a relationship with the Royal Family at all.
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