Prince Harry is apparently skipping a royal Christmas tradition out of respect for Meghan Markle
With Christmas quickly approaching, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to spend their first Christmas together as a married couple. Meghan has reportedly embraced several of the royal family’s holiday traditions, but according to new reports, there’s one that she just can’t get behind—and to show his support, Harry is refraining this year, too.
According to the Daily Mail, Harry will skip the royal family’s annual pheasant shoot, which traditionally takes place on Boxing Day (December 26th). Although the 34-year-old Duke of Sussex participated in this event for some 20 years, he has reportedly opted out this year because Meghan strongly opposes hunting.
Harry also apparently skipped the post-Christmas pheasant hunt last year after finding out his then-fiancée “wasn’t happy” when he went boar hunting several months before. Of course, these rumors are unconfirmed, and a Kensington Palace source even told The Telegraph that reports of Meghan influencing Harry’s decision are “completely untrue.”
This year will be the second time that Harry and Meghan have spent the holidays together. ABC News reports that, like last year, they’ll join the rest of the royal family at the queen’s Norfolk estate, Sandringham. As the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan will also likely create their own holiday traditions as well. On December 14th, they unveiled their first Christmas card, featuring a gorgeous never-before-seen photo from their wedding in May.
Pheasant hunting or none, we hope Meghan and Harry have a very merry Christmas.
