Duchess Kate & Meghan join the royals for the Buckingham Palace Xmas luncheon

Royal family Christmas Lunch

Here are some photos of Royals In Cars, which should be more of a thing. Today is the annual Buckingham Palace Christmas luncheon, where the Queen invites all of her relations for a low-key family meal before she travels to Sandringham for the holidays. There is limited space at Sandringham, so only immediate family members go to Norfolk for Christmas, and this Buckingham Palace luncheon is a way for the Queen to invite some of the lesser royals to some kind of group activity.

The British papers are making a big deal about how the Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Sussex are both at the luncheon, like maybe there will be a big, violent catfight over ham and fruitcake. Doubtful. While I think it’s clear that Meghan and Kate are not BFFs, they’ll both be on good behavior today. I personally think the bigger drama will be between William, Harry and Charles.

Meghan seemed to wear something black and conservative for the lunch, while Kate chose something in a Pepto pink shade with a pussybow. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Nanny Maria were in the Cambridge car too. Are the kids already out of school? I suspect the Cambridges will be heading to Anmer Hall today or tomorrow. Princess Michael of Kent was also in attendance – last year, she wore a racist blackamoor brooch, but she doesn’t seem to be wearing any racist jewelry this year. We’ll see.

Royal family Christmas Lunch

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Royal family Christmas Lunch

Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.

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72 Responses to “Duchess Kate & Meghan join the royals for the Buckingham Palace Xmas luncheon”

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  1. TheOriginalMia says:

    Someone got a photo of Harry & Meghan exiting their car, but the poster deleted it before I could see it. Le sigh!

  2. Becks1 says:

    I hate pussybows forever and ever after Melania wore one to that debate.

    • Lilly (with the double-L) says:

      Me too. Some things just get ruined forever. But, Kate does look very pretty.

    • Milla says:

      I love both dresses. And Melanias style wasn’t bad, she had some good looks, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t an ahole. But Kate’s dress is perfect colour and Meg’s has wonderful dark flowers, just perfect.

  3. Louise Anne says:

    God, Meghan is GLOWING

    • Belluga says:

      She really is. She looks radiant here.

    • jan90067 says:

      She really *can’t* take a bad picture lol. She does glow.

      Kate even waved to the crowds in one pic (over on the Fail… I know, I know…but they do get good pics!). And she really should lose those pussybow. I know the 80s are “in” right now, but man, that was a horrible decade for clothes (and hair!).

  4. Toot says:

    Meghan has the best car picture. lol She always looks beautiful.

  5. AnotherDirtyMartini says:

    Ugh, her brooch last year should have cost her to be uninvited this year (the Kent snot).

  6. TeddyPicker says:

    “There is limited space at Sandringham” – sorry but LOL. Like it isn’t a 20,000 acre estate with an enormous main house (complete with ballroom) and several satellite homes including Bill and Kathy’s recently renovated pile. I’m sure she could fit a few more uncles and cousins in somewhere. The more pertinent question is if she (or rather Charles) wants to….

    • Eliza says:

      The Queen has about 10 different families coming to visit the main house (all her cousins, children, sister’s kids families, grandchildren and great grandchildren come). The house doesn’t have 20 bedrooms – so as odd as it sounds, yes space is limited.

      • Canadiangirl says:

        Yep, the queen’s immediate family (children and grandchildren) total 30 with spouses and children plus staff etc.

        When you start branching out to cousins, etc. It is a lot of people. You can’t invite one branc), you’d have to invite all of them, it makes sense to restrict it to her close family.

  7. LORENA says:

    Meghan looks so pretty! Wish I could see their whole outfits

  8. Aniebolenie says:

    “There is limited space at Sandringham”
    *googles Sandringham*
    LIMITED SPACE?

  9. Maxie says:

    Does anyone know who actually goes to Sandringham? The Queen, Prince Philip + all their children and grandchildren is a given but is there anyone else?

    Will Charles do Christmas at that estate when the time comes? Will he invite his siblings and nieces/nephews if he goes ahead with less working royals?

    • aaa says:

      My understanding is that it is the descendants of George VI (the children, grandchildren and so forth of Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth) who get the Sandringham invite but not all of them attend because they may choose to spend Christmas with the spouse’s family or do other things.

      I know you did not ask but the attendees of luncheon are the descendants of George V except the Harewood branch which I am not sure if it is that they are not invited, or are invited and choose not to attend. The Harewoods who are the Queen’s first cousins are deceased.

      • Maxie says:

        Thanks!

      • MaryContrary says:

        I just watched “A Very English Scandal” and fell down the rabbit hole of Jeremy Thorpe’s life. Apparently, his second wife (a concert pianist) was divorced from the Harewood cousin and had children with him.

      • Liz says:

        The only “non-family” member to get an invite is Sophie Wessex’s father. Her mother died years ago and she’s supposedly very close to QEII. Her father has been invited in recent years so he will not be alone at Christmas. I don’t think that either Camila or Anne’s husband have surviving parents.

  10. Elisa says:

    The Daily Mail has pics of Princess Anne with her sunglasses on – she looks too cool. 😉
    And her son Peter Phillips is hot!

    • Janey says:

      my husband met Princess Anne this week when she opened a school he project managed. He said she was amazing, witty and took a lot of time to meet everyone; the build team, teachers and kids and sat in on a music lesson. Apparently she had been to one event that morning before arriving at the school and had two more events planned in the afternoon.

      • Angie says:

        Ah, princess Anne…..she could teach certain younger royals a thing or two about work ethic and being sincere and genuine. But no one is interested in that, only the clothes lol 🤪

      • MaryContrary says:

        @Angie: this exactly. I typed this the other day. Stop with the initiatives and the creation of the wheel. Just get out there every day and go to the things that are already in place.

      • Betsy says:

        @Angie and MaryContrary – yep. She’s so far down the line of succession, but she still shows up.

      • Lilly (with the double-L) says:

        Wonderful! I really adore Princess Anne.

      • Himmiefan says:

        This is why I think Anne and Meghan would get along. They seemed to be having a friendly conversation at Eugenie’s wedding.

    • Princessk says:

      Anne was ostensibly wearing those hideous glasses to shield her eyes from flashing light bulbs, but it is probably nearer to the truth to say that Anne put those goggles on so she did not have to acknowledge waving humans or smile for the camera. We all know that Anne can be rather cold and also doesn’t smile much or like physical contact. I can see her having very little in common with Meghan.

  11. Amelie says:

    I’m assuming that’s Prince Michael of Kent next to Princess Michael of Kent in that last picture? He kind of looks like Donald Sutherland in that picture.

    I don’t even need to see Kate’s full outfit to know I’d hate it. Pussy bow = NO.

  12. molly says:

    Meghan’s dress is Erdem with shear, billowy sleeves, and a jewel-toned floral patters. So, not black or conservative.

  13. R says:

    I really don’t get the bashing for having a nanny? I mean do you really think Megan who is taking a shorter then normal mat leave isn’t going to have a nanny? (please note I don’t think it is an issue to have a nanny) But I am curious if Megan and Harry will be endlessly attacked for doing what 1000s of people do and have a nanny like Kate is.

    Also I really don’t believe Megan and Kate are fighting at all. I also don’t think the stories are coming from Kate, her family or William. I think it is all coming from Charles’ staff, not actually Charles and probably some annoyed KP staff. But as for Kate and Megan I just don’t think they are fighting every time we see them interact they seem to get along. I don’t believe they are BFFs but I think they are friendly and like 99% of in laws in the world friendly but living their own lives.

    I do think Charles and his sons are probably being petty (but that doesn’t sell) and I think Kate and Megan are just trying to stay out of it.

    • Josie says:

      The Tindalls appear to have brought Mia’s nanny, too, which tells us they have a nanny assistant just like the Cambridges (because someone is home with Lena). The issue isn’t that they all have nannies, it’s that the Cambridges claim that family duties prevent them from working harder. (I do not believe the Cambridges have more than two nannies though — that rumor is totally unsubstantiated).

    • KidV says:

      They’re not bashed for having a nanny they’re bashed for denying they have nannies (plural).

      • Brandy Alexander says:

        Where have they ever denied they have nannies?

      • KidV says:

        Soon after George was born they said they weren’t hiring a nanny, when it was obvious they had (Nanny Maria was always in the background in photos). Before Charlotte was born they said they weren’t hiring a second nanny. Here’s one of many posts:

        https://www.celebitchy.com/421240/people_duchess_kate_will_not_hire_a_second_full-time_nanny_for_the_new_baby/

        I typed in “nanny” in the search and laughed at how many posts popped up mentioning Ben Affleck.

      • Lolly says:

        @KIDV I read the article you posted and it literally says that they won’t hire anyone immediately but they do plan on getting one eventually, like they did with George. Sooo there was no denial. And also, it’s from People.

      • KidV says:

        I don’t have time to search and read every article about it. It’s been mentioned many times on this blog. Sure, it’s a gossip blog and a lot is speculation, but I know I read it here (I don’t read about the royals anywhere else) and there were a lot of posts from readers about it. I’m not sure why it’s that important to you.

    • noway says:

      100% agree. I think it’s the royal worker bees and not the royals per se. The royals know the gossip sites glorifies you for a bit then they skewer you for a while. They did this to even Diana, and if she lived they still would be doing it. I’m not saying especially the royal men aren’t having regular family issues, but I do think Meghan and Kate are probably trying to stay out of it while still being loyal to their husbands.

    • Mego says:

      R, Kate and William are not bashed for having nannies.

      It is however, frequently claimed on Celebitchy that Kate is a tired and busy mother of three young children and therefore shouldn’t be criticized for not working very hard. Or that William And Kate want to focus on their young children and whats wrong with that etc.

      It is then countered that if that is in fact the case they should seriously consider not wasting tax payer money on multiple staff and a lavish lifestyle.

      That is all.

  14. Kristy says:

    Ugh. Kate’s dress is Calpol pink. Gross.

  15. xdanix says:

    I agree with what R posted above. I don’t believe any of the “feud” stories either. To me it seems like 99% media-driven nonsense. Maybe Kate and Meghan aren’t each other’s favourite person in the world, but nobody other than the media ever said they had to be! We’ve literally seen nothing but polite, friendly interactions between them. I’m honestly at the point where I’m not believing much of what I read about them at the moment- hell, it’s all gotten so nasty and tiring I’m not even READING most of it at the moment- and I’m looking forward to the next “narrative” rolling around. First it was the Fab 4 besties, now feuding sisters-in-law, whatever will they come up with next? Competing baby cousins?!?!

    • noway says:

      Oh lord don’t give them any ideas. We might get baby fighting next.

    • Himmiefan says:

      I don’t get the media’s mentality that they’re either BFFs or at each other’s throats. We’re all on great terms with people who aren’t our BFFs. I agree that Kate and Meghan are on good terms. Their body language at Wimbledon didn’t show any hostility or awkwardness.

      Cat fight over the fruit cake – shades of The Windsors! I hope the show does a Christmas special this year.

  16. Jan says:

    I wish we could see Meghan’s entire look because she’s wearing a repeat from 2016!

  17. upstate diva says:

    William was pictured waving to the photogs from the car!. The Royal Rota should be kissing Meghan’s feet. The Cambridges have been much more wave-y and smiley in the last year. When I saw the Will waves foto, I laughed; it gave me the holiday spirit. Otherwise, same (fake drama) shizz, different day.

  18. Sorella says:

    They are both lovely ladies, both are pretty in their own way. Megan really glows when pregnant and Kate has a light-up-her-face smile. I hate all the putting them against each other. I have a feeling it is not as bad as media makes it out to be (and like Lainey says..I think the tension is more between the brothers, not their wives).

  19. RBC says:

    Princess Michael is probably wearing a wire to get more gossip for the tabloids.

  20. YankLynn says:

    Town and Country is saying Meghan is wearing a dress she wore in 2016 on the Today show
    https://www.today.com/video/meghan-markle-shows-us-how-to-look-cool-in-the-bitter-cold-602380867519
    The car shots at Buckingham do show a bit of black lace at the neck, but I can’t see much more.
    On the Today clip she’s seated but it appears to be a short dress, with a waist, and yesterday’s photos show Meg has definitely popped. Could she really get that 2016 dress on and zipped/buttoned in back today ??!

    • Tourmaline says:

      The Mad about Meghan blog has more/better pictures of it–they are saying yes it is the same Erdem dress she wore in 2016

    • mtam says:

      @ YankLynn
      It seems the dress has a higher than regular waist and that it’s stretchy, so that can explain why it still fits. It looks like a pretty cute dress i like it