Why Prince William, Kate Middleton Might Skip Christmas With Queen Elizabeth

Prince William and Kate Middleton might not spend time with Queen Elizabeth on Christmas.

Initially, the plan was for Queen Elizabeth II to go to Sandringham for the holidays, like what she would always do. But last year, she decided to stay at Windsor and spend the holidays there due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year is no different because of the surge in cases in the U.K. due to the omicron variant.

Royal expert Kerene Barefield, executive producer of True Royal TV's "The Royal Beat," weighed in on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's holiday plans now that the Queen will not be heading to Sandringham. According to her, the Cambridges might not join the Queen for the holiday season.

"I understand from sources that there could be a Christmas at Windsor this year, if things change," she told Us Weekly.

She continued, "That will be further away from them than if they’re in Sandringham, [which is] just a stone’s throw [away from Norfolk]. So yeah, they may not [attend], if it’s at Windsor."

Prince William and Middleton are staying at their countryside home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, England, for the holidays. They will be bringing their three children — Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, Prince Louis, 3 — there.

"It’s going to be a big family affair," an unnamed insider told Us Weekly about the Cambridge's holiday plans in Sandringham before the Queen decided to cancel it. "George, Charlotte and Louis are absolutely delighted to be seeing their great grandmother in person again."

The Queen also canceled her annual Christmas party days before the holiday, which was set for Dec. 21.

The royal family planned for "a small, close family gathering at Sandringham." Prince William and Middleton were expected to be there, including Her Majesty's "closet family" members.

"This would include Prince Charles and Camilla; Kate and William and the children — who obviously will be staying close anyway, just a stone’s throw away in Norfolk," the producer said of the royal family's original Christmas plans. "Prince Andrew and the girls, Beatrice and Eugenie and the husbands and the babies; And Princess Anne and her husband; and then Sophie and Edward."

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are unlikely to join the royal family for the holidays. An anonymous tipster told Page Six that many things go into the logistics, so the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would have informed the royal family and the staff if they were planning to fly to the U.K. for Christmas.