Prince Harry, Meghan Markle will return to the UK in January, but won’t come for Christmas

The royal couple are planning a return to the UK but it looks like they will skip Christmas with the Queen for the second year in a row.

LA-based Meghan and Harry are expected to return to the UK in January, but — to the Queen’s reported “disappointment” — will likely skip Christmas at Sandringham again.

The Queen is said to be dismayed by the pair’s decision to celebrate Christmas in their LA mansion as she is “missing” her 17-month-old great-grandson Archie, who she has not seen in several months.

The couple last visited Britain before coronavirus restrictions hit in March for their final royal engagements, but Archie did not join them on the trip.

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Harry and Meghan were last in the UK in early March. Picture: AFP.

The couple will be returning to the UK in January for a court date, with Meghan required by law to appear in person at trial.

Meghan is suing the Mail on Sunday for breach of copyright after it published part of a private letter she wrote to her estranged father Thomas Markle Snr.

She and Prince Harry have filed a number of lawsuits in relation to protecting their privacy, including one against paparazzi who took photos of their son during their time in Canada and the US.

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The Queen hasn’t seen Archie in several months. Picture: Instagram.

This week, it was revealed the royal’s legal fees could amount to roughly $AUD3.1 million.

While it is only Meghan who will appear at the trial in January, Harry and their son Archie will reportedly accompany her to the UK.

According to The Sun, activity at their UK home Frogmore Cottage is already underway in preparation for their visit.

The family will be required to quarantine for two weeks at the property.

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Harry and Meghan have appeared in a number of video summits from their Santa Barbara mansion lately, including a controversial televised Time 100 special. Credit: Time

It is expected they will return to the UK for second time in 2021 for the unveiling of the statue of Princess Diana’s on July 1.

During a recent video call with members of the Rugby Football League, Harry also said he intends to return to his homeland to watch the upcoming World Cup, to be held in late October.

“We’ve got a whole Rugby League World Cup coming next year, so I definitely plan on coming back,” Harry said. “I would have been back already had it not been for COVID.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a video call with Malala Yousafzai on International Day of the Girl. Picture: Twitter.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their son have lived abroad since November 2019, briefly in Vancouver Island, Canada before relocating to California earlier this year.

Harry and Meghan’s exit deal is expected to be reviewed by Buckingham Palace in April 2021 — a year since they officially stepped down as senior royals.