Biggest famous family feuds of 2025: The stars leaving their relatives out in the cold this Christmas - and how they all share an intriguing connection

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will spend another Christmas apart from their families. This year marks Harry’s sixth holiday season away from the UK royals. The couple will stay at their £14 million home in Montecito, California, with their two children.

Their separation from relatives remains a recurring theme. Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, and her siblings will not join them, as they remain estranged. Meanwhile, Harry has made efforts to rebuild ties with his own family after years of tension.

Meghan recently reached out to her father for the first time in seven years. While he was hospitalised in the Philippines for a leg amputation, she sent a hand-delivered letter through trusted contacts. Thomas had previously admitted to staging paparazzi photos before her 2018 wedding to Harry, leading to their estrangement.

Despite the gesture, Meghan reportedly believes reconciliation is unlikely. She cites her father’s ongoing relationship with the media as a major obstacle. Thomas, however, has expressed a desire to reconnect, especially after undergoing life-saving surgery.

Harry, too, has been working to mend relationships. In September, he spent 54 minutes with King Charles in an attempt to rebuild their bond. The prince has spoken openly about wanting a ‘reset’ with both his family and the British public. Yet, this Christmas will again see him and Meghan celebrating privately in California, far from their relatives.

The situation mirrors that of other high-profile couples. The 1974 song It’ll Be Lonely This Christmas by Mud has resurfaced in discussions about celebrity families spending the holidays apart.

The couple’s decision to stay in California reinforces their distance from both the royal family and Meghan’s relatives. Harry’s efforts to reconcile with his father and brother remain uncertain. Meanwhile, Meghan’s brief contact with her father has not yet led to a full reunion.

This Christmas will be another quiet one for the Sussexes. Their focus remains on their children and their life in Montecito, away from the public eye.