What’s The Queen’s Christmas Tradition That Could Be ‘Awkward’ For Meghan Markle?

Meghan Markle might find one of Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas traditions "awkward."

The royals are expected to gather together at Sandringham on Christmas day. Prince William and Kate Middleton will reportedly join them despite the rumored rift with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

According to Sam Stevenson, a journalist for Express, there’s one royal tradition that the Duchess of Sussex will surely find awkward and that’s the customary Christmas pheasant shoot. This happens after their breakfast kedgeree.

The royal family has been doing this for centuries. They are known for their love for blood sports. In fact, Prince Charles was dubbed as “Hooligan of the Year” following a boar-hunting expedition in Liechtenstein in 1978.

Unlike the royals, Markle is an animal rights advocate. Due to Markle’s stance about the issue, Prince Harry has slowly distanced himself from the said activity. The Duke of Sussex skipped grouse hunting last summer. He also did not join Boxing Day when he started dating Markle.

“The Boxing Day shoot was always going to be a tricky issue. Meghan is a keen animal rights campaigner and doesn't like hunting in any form,” a source told The Sun.

“Harry loves it and has always been out there on Boxing Day. But if it means breaking with long-standing royal traditions to avoid upsetting her, so be it,” the source continued. “It's fair to say that there are some pretty stunned faces around here. If Meghan’s not comfortable with him doing the shoot, he wouldn't want to upset her.”

Last summer, Prince William and Middleton took their eldest son, Prince George, to his first grouse shoot. However, many were alarmed and concerned because the activity involves killing animals, and many consider the act “horrible” and “disgusting.”

“It's just too bad animals have to die in order for them to have fun. That's a terrible thing to teach children, especially at George's age. Modernize Royals. Join the human race,” one netizen wrote on Twitter.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were also criticized for introducing the 5-year-old royal to the said activity.

"So sad #KateMiddleton, I thought you were better than this," one user wrote.

"Disgusting, shows how [two-faced] Wills & Harry when talk about animal conservation. How many birds of prey were murdered to allow the shoot? Young royals modern, what a joke," Casey Jones commented.