Will King Charles Mention Prince Harry, Meghan Markle in Christmas Speech?

King Charles III has offered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle several olive branches in the past year—but he "can't" mention them in his first Christmas speech, a royal author told Newsweek.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were left out of Queen Elizabeth II's final Christmas Day broadcast in 2021, as she focused on recognizing the contributions of Prince William, Charles and Prince Philip to the environment.

This year, Charles must decide whether to include some warm words about his second son and daughter-in-law as he speaks to a nation experiencing its first Christmas without the queen as head of state in 70 years.

The U.K. may also be looking for reasons to celebrate at a time of economic difficulties amid soaring inflation.

In the background, the palace will be braced for the arrival of Prince Harry's memoir, titled Spare, in January 2023. That may include criticisms of the royal family, though no content from it has yet emerged.

Reasons Prince Harry and Meghan Markle May Not Be in Royal Christmas Speech

Biographer Robert Jobson, author of William at 40, told Newsweek that Harry and Meghan were unlikely to make the journey to Britain to spend Christmas with the royal family.

He said: "I would think it's very unlikely Harry and Meghan will be here over Christmas and they can't really do olive branches until they've seen what's in this book.

"I don't think they can say anything. I'm sure they would like to have been given assurances about what's in the book but I don't think they have been.

"Harry and Meghan should give an advance copy of the book but I don't think they will otherwise there could be legal action."

It isn't yet known whether Spare will be critical of the royals, but the title hints at Harry's status as second in the pecking order to older brother Prince William.

It is often said that each generation of the royal family must produce one heir to the throne and a second born spare, in case the heir should die or abdicate.

The framing suggests Harry's life story will focus on his position within the family and his relationship with the other royals. It comes on the back of multiple swipes at the institution of monarchy during the March 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview and other media appearances.

The queen also didn't mention Harry and Meghan in her Christmas broadcast in December 21, despite describing how her late husband Prince Philip had inspired other royal family members to help the environment.

Elizabeth said: "He was also an early champion of taking seriously our stewardship of the environment; and I am proud beyond words that his pioneering work has been taken on and magnified by our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William—admirably supported by Camilla and Catherine—most recently at the COP climate change summit in Glasgow."

Harry and Meghan had recently announced their Archewell foundation was working towards a target to be net zero, and the Duke of Sussex has also been pushing for a greener world through eco-tourism initiative Travalyst.

There is nothing to suggest Harry and Meghan have been banned from attending the royal family's Christmas, but if they were to make the long flight across the Atlantic it would be the first time in attendance since 2018, before they quit royal duties.

Meghan has only been to the royal Christmas celebrations twice in her six-year relationship with Harry, in 2017 and 2018.

Reasons Charles Could Include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Speech

While the book may worry courtiers, Charles has extended several olive branches to Harry and Meghan over the past year.

A month after the queen didn't mention the Sussexes, Charles wrote of Harry's work on the environment in a January 2022 cover essay for Newsweek.

He wrote: "My younger son, Harry, has passionately highlighted the impact of climate change, especially in relation to Africa, and committed his charity to being net zero."

Harry and Meghan stopped off to meet the queen and Charles as they traveled to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands in April 2022.

A source later told Newsweek that Charles had enjoyed seeing Harry and Meghan, and hearing news of their children.

After the queen died, Charles mentioned the couple in his first speech as king, saying: "I also want to express my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas."

Charles will have to decide whether to continue his record of supportive comments about his son or default back to focusing only on working members of the royal family as Britons look for Christmas cheer at a time when the country is already in recession and inflation was at a 41-year high of 11.1 percent in the year up to October.