Later today, Meghan’s lawyers will ask High Court judge Mr Justice Warby to rule in her favour and strike out the publisher’s defence to her claim. The judge will also to hear an application for the trial, which is due begin on January 11, to be postponed.
This application may have an indirect impact on the Queen and Prince Philip.
If Meghan were to win this bid and no longer need to travel across the pond for the trial, she, Prince Harry and Archie may decide to avoid the journey entirely and spend the festive period at their home in California.
On the other hand, if the Duchess had to attend the trial in person from January 11 to testify, under current Government regulations she would be required to arrive 14 days prior to its start and self-isolate.
This possibility has led many royal commentators to think the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could return early enoughto meet the Queen, Prince Philip and other senior royals over the festive period.
Meghan Markle has lodged a request to delay her privacy legal action (Image: GETTY)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s son Archie is one (Image: GETTY)
If Meghan were required to travel to the UK, she would need to leave the US on December 28 at the latest.
Speaking about the possibility of the Sussexes spending Christmas with the elderly royals, royal author Robert Lacey expressed a cutting view.
He told Newsweek: “People will be disappointed if their first arrival in Britain is seen solely in terms of a court case and I think people will expect some sort of family reconciliation.
“There have been enough snubs.
“That would make it two Christmasses in a row and a summer holiday when they’ve snubbed the family.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have stepped down as senior royals (Image: GETTY)
“So yes, I think they should see the family at Christmas.”
Last year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent their first Christmas as parents privately in Canada, in the company of Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland.
This decision didn’t mark a royal first, as Kate and Prince William had decided more than one time in the past to ditch Christmas at Sandringham and spend it with the Middletons.
Last year, Meghan and Harry also chose not to visit the Queen and Prince Philip at Balmoral during their summer holidays.
Another royal biographer, Ingrid Seward, said Meghan and Harry “got to” see the elderly royals and bring Archie with them due to the “frailty of Prince Philip”.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are no longer working royals (Image: GETTY)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have travelled back to the UK twice this year (Image: GETTY)
She said: “The Queen and Philip would be very sad not see Archie.
“I think it would be up to Harry to make sure they see Archie and I think Meghan will be pushing for that.
“They’ve got to because of the frailty of Prince Philip.
“Meghan will make sure that they take Archie to see their grandparents, absolutely, for sure, but just not on Christmas Day.”
If Meghan, Harry and Archie were to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, their encounter would need to be self-distanced.
Royals who visited the monarch and her husband at Balmoral Castle are thought to have stayed a safe two-metre distance away at all time.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry now live in California (Image: EXPRESS)
Archie left for Canada in mid-November last year, when his parents left for an announced six-week break.
Meghan and Harry returned to Britain twice in 2020 – but they never brought their one-year-old son with them.
First, Meghan and Harry returned in January to visit Canada House and announce their intention to step back from their public roles.
Later, the couple travelled back to Harry’s homeland to carry out their last official royal engagement in March, before beginning their new lives in California as non-working royals.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may decide to bring along Archie next time they travel to the UK due to Philip’s ‘frailty’ – expert (Image: GETTY)
The coronavirus pandemic has made it more difficult for the Sussexes to remain in touch with their family in the UK.
The pair were tipped to return in June to attend the Trooping the Colour parade.
However, the traditional celebrations for the Queen’s official birthday were called off to avoid mass gatherings.
As a veteran, Harry may have also been expected to attend the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph – but this event is now only going to take place in a stripped down form.
