Meghan Markle to attend Queen’s pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace
Meghan Markle is set to be at the Queen’s pre-Christmas lunch where she will be introduced to Prince Harry’s extended family.
The Queen throws the traditional festive knees-up at Buckingham Palace every year to ensure she sees relatives who are not invited to Sandringham on December 25.
This year’s event, thought to be on December 20, will be attended by at least 50 Royals including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, as well as relatives lower down the pecking order such as Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
Kate attended the lunch with William following their engagement in November 2010.
A royal source said: “If Meghan is in the country then she will be at the lunch. Now Meghan is engaged to Harry, she’s already considered part of the family.
“Plus it provides the perfect opportunity for her to meet some of the Prince’s extended family, especially as she was not at the Queen and Prince Philip’s 70th-anniversary dinner last month.”
The lunch will see Meghan renew her acquaintance with the Queen’s corgis.
During their engagement interview last month, Harry, 33, joked that his grandmother’s dogs had taken an instant shine to his future wife.
It has been reported that the American actress, 36, will also spend the Christmas weekend with the Queen at Sandringham – an unprecedented move for a royal bride-to-be.
Historically, royal couples have had to be married before they attend the annual festivities in Norfolk together but it is thought an exception may be made for the divorcee because the wedding is so imminent.
They plan to marry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in May on a date to be announced.
Following the German tradition, the Royal Family open their presents on Christmas Eve before sitting down to a black tie diner.
On Christmas Day they enjoy a full English breakfast before heading to St Mary Magdalene Church on the estate, returning to Sandringham House afterwards for Christmas lunch.
Source: EXPRESS CO UK
Tags: Prince Harry, Prince William, Buckingham Palace
