Kate Middleton is preparing to bring people together this Christmas, but there is one family question that could make her latest announcement particularly interesting. The Princess of Wales has confirmed that her annual Christmas carol concert will return to Westminster Abbey, with this year’s theme focusing on love, kindness and caring for one another. It is a lovely message for the holiday season, but considering the ongoing distance between the Waleses and the Sussexes, some royal watchers may be wondering whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be included in the celebration.

After everything that has happened between the two couples, an invitation to Harry and Meghan would certainly attract attention, but leaving them out could raise questions of its own. If the purpose is to bring people together, should that message begin with the royal family?

Kate announced on November 13 that she will host the sixth annual Together at Christmas service on December 11 at Westminster Abbey, where more than 1,600 guests are expected to attend. The event has become one of her most recognizable annual engagements, bringing together people who have made a difference in their communities and those who have supported others through difficult times.

According to the official announcement, this year’s service will celebrate “the importance of love, kindness and caring for one another,” while recognizing the ways people create supportive environments within their families, communities and everyday lives.

It is a message that feels particularly appropriate during the Christmas season, especially when so many families are dealing with disagreements, separation and difficult relationships.

And that is precisely why the question of Harry and Meghan becomes interesting.

A Christmas Message That Raises Questions About Her Own Family

The Princess of Wales has spent years building this event into something more than just another royal Christmas appearance. It is designed to recognize ordinary people who have gone out of their way to help others, and the guest list includes individuals who have made a difference to their communities.

The service will also feature traditional and contemporary Christmas music, readings and special performances, with 15 additional community carol services taking place across the United Kingdom. Those unable to attend Westminster Abbey will be able to watch the televised celebration on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve.

Last year’s event was particularly memorable because William and Kate were joined by their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Kate and her daughter Charlotte even performed a surprise piano duet, adding a lovely family moment to the celebration.

But this year, attention could turn to another part of the family that has been missing from these celebrations.

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Will Harry and Meghan Get an Invitation?

Prince Harry and Meghan have never attended Kate’s Christmas carol concert since it began in 2021, and there has been no announcement suggesting that this year will be any different.

However, reports have suggested that the Sussexes are hoping to spend Christmas in Britain for the first time since 2018, potentially celebrating at their new home with Archie and Lilibet. If those plans go ahead, the question of whether they could be included in some of the family’s festive activities becomes even more interesting.

Of course, an invitation to Kate’s concert would not automatically mean that William and Harry are ready to put their differences aside. There is a considerable amount of history between the brothers, and years of public disagreements have done little to rebuild the trust that once existed between them.

Still, it would be difficult not to notice the contrast if Kate spends the evening celebrating love, kindness and bringing people together while her own brother-in-law and his family remain on the outside.

Should Charity Begin at Home?

Nobody is suggesting that Kate should abandon the event’s purpose or turn an evening celebrating community heroes into a royal family reunion. The people being honored deserve to remain at the center of the occasion.

But the message she has chosen does raise an interesting question about whether there is room for a little family goodwill alongside all the public celebrations.

An invitation would not solve everything, nor would it guarantee that Harry and William would suddenly become close again. However, it could at least demonstrate that the door to a more peaceful relationship has not been completely closed.

And if Harry and Meghan are not invited, Kate may find herself facing questions about why a celebration built around togetherness could not extend even a small gesture toward her estranged brother-in-law.

For now, there is no indication that an invitation is being considered, and it would be unfair to assume that Kate is responsible for repairing a family relationship that involves several people.

But Christmas is supposed to be about forgiveness, kindness and making an effort, even when relationships are difficult.

Kate has made a beautiful announcement about bringing people together. Now, perhaps the more interesting question is whether that spirit of togetherness will extend beyond Westminster Abbey and into the royal family’s own complicated relationships.