Meghan Markle says goodbye to low-key family Christmases like this in favour of a very royal affair with the Queen
The Sun reveals a picture from her childhood of her, her aunt and her cousin happily posing in front of a Christmas tree and gifts
MEGHAN Markle's Christmases will be vastly different from now on as she marries into the royal family - and can expect to play sardines, exchange joke gifts and take on a full English breakfast as part of the fun.
The 36-year-old will no longer have the low-key festive season she grew up with, after announcing her engagement to Prince Harry last week.
The Suits star will this year celebrate Christmas with the Queen, as her family is in the US, getting firmly stuck in to parlour games and country walks amid the strict schedule.
This is a marked difference to the family Christmases she will have spent in previous years, as The Sun reveals a picture of her, her aunt and her cousin from her childhood.
The royal-to-be happily poses in front of a Christmas tree and gifts, with tinsel on the walls behind in the family album photograph - it is unlikely tinsel will feature in the royal Christmas.
This year the actress will join the Windsors for their annual, three-day celebrations at Sandringham - a privilege usually reserved for members of the royal family.
She will join the traditional black tie dinner on Christmas Eve, after exchanging jokey cheap presents - which last year featured a white weather toilet seat.
The routine is said to never waver on Christmas Day as church and lunch for exactly 50 minutes, so the Queen's speech can be viewed, is the order of the day.
The next few days include long country walks and parlour games, before the lovebirds jet off to celebrate the new year.
Although it breaks traditional protocol, PR advisers claim the gesture of including Meghan in the festive fun is needed to avoid ill feeling with Meghan.
But the move could spark tension with Meghan's soon-to-be sister-in-law Kate Middleton who was snubbed from the celebrations seven years ago.
The Duchess of Cambridge was forced to wait until she was married before being allowed to sit at the royal dining table.
Mike Tindall was also prevented from joining until he wed Princess Anne's daughter, Zara.
Mr Fitzwilliams told the : “It is expected Meghan will join Harry and the rest of the Royal Family for Christmas on the Queen's estate in Norfolk this year.
“In 2010 Kate was not invited to do so after her engagement to William nor was Mike Tindall after his to the Princess Royal's daughter Zara Phillips and only spouses and close family are usually invited.
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“However Harry and Meghan will be living together at Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace and her family are in the United States. The monarchy relies heavily on precedent and tradition but it also makes its own.”
The Suits star has torn up tradition in the past when she broke the royal dressing rule previously upheld by Kate and the Queen.
She appeared bare-legged during a photoshoot for the official engagement announcement in Kensington palace, but Her Majesty requires tights be worn on such occasions.
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