Most family dynamics are somewhat troubled but none like the British royals. With Christmas around the corner, things are expected to get messier.
Discover our latest podcast
In fresh reports, it has been claimed there’s a subtle sense of disapproval between Prince William and his step-brother Tom Parker Bowles.
Tom, who is currently promoting his new cookbook on Royals, may be invited to the Royal Family’s Christmas. Traditionally, the royals gather at Sandringham Estate for a formal Christmas filled with long-established customs, including pheasant shooting, and gift exchanges on Christmas Eve.
However, this year’s holiday season is marked with uncertainty as King Charles battles cancer. While Prince Harry and Meghan have allegedly been invited to spend Christmas with Lady Diana’s family, sources have suggested that William and Kate are reportedly considering skipping the royal festivities altogether.
Prince William’s rift with step-brother Tom Parker Bowles
As reported by Cosmopolitan, the future King and Queen ‘are unlikely’ to join the Royal Family’s Christmas at Sandringham. But rumour has it that they are especially unwilling to attend if Queen Camilla’s son, Tom, is on the guest list. While William has accepted his father’s marriage to Camilla, however reluctantly, there are whispers that his relationship with his stepbrother remains strained.
Allegedly, William disapproves of Tom’s ‘louche lifestyle’ as a socialite. In 1999, Tom was famously caught admitting to using cocaine, reports The Daily Beast. Additionally, the relationship between Camilla and William has been difficult, given that she was the ‘other woman’ in his parents’ marriage. Prince Harry’s memoir also stated that both brothers ‘begged’ Charles not to marry Camilla.
Amidst this, a source has previously stated to The Daily Beast:
It is best to avoid mentioning Tom around William.
William, who’s not a fan of his family members doing interviews for books, may also have problems with Tom’s ongoing promotion of his royal cookbook.
While there are no official statements or announcements yet on the royal Christmas celebrations, there are suggestions that William and Kate will likely hold their own low-key Christmas plans.
Prince William and Kate’s own ‘middle-class’ Christmas
Instead of joining the formal gathering at Sandringham, it has been speculated that William and Kate plan to host a relaxed, family-centred Christmas at their home, Anmer Hall. The couple is expected to invite Kate’s parents, Mike and Carole Middleton, along with her siblings, James and Pippa.
Unlike the rigid customs at Sandringham, their celebration will focus on traditions familiar to middle-class families, reports The Daily Beast. This includes opening gifts on Christmas Day, eating chocolate and a movie marathon with the kids.
In a bid to reflect their desire to make Royalty modern, the couple could post bits of their celebration on social media. A source has suggested:
A little social media of the family eating chocolate and watching TV would be a very effective way of showing how normal Christmas is at Anmer Hall compared to what we hear about at Sandringham
Read more:
Prince William stuns by saying brother Harry's name in public after years
King Charles' forgotten love interest: The tragic story of Lady Dale Tryon
Sources used:
Cosmopolitan: Prince William Will Snub Royal Family Christmas if His Stepbrother Tom Is There
The Daily Beast: Does Prince William Still Have a Problem With Queen Camilla?
The Daily Beast: Prince William and Kate Plot Christmas ‘Coup’ on King Charles
