As the holiday season gets closer, many families across the world are trying to figure out how to celebrate amid the ongoing pandemic. Over in the U.K., shutdown restrictions will be eased for five days allowing members of three different households to gather for Christmas. For the royals, this means not everybody in the family will get to gather with Queen Elizabeth like they have in past years.

While some royal watchers may assume that the two households containing the heirs to the throne would be invited into Her Majesty's Christmas 'COVID-19 bubble,' however, it seems like neither Prince Charles or Prince William have snagged an invitation just yet. According to a number of reports, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have already made plans to spend the holidays with their youngest son, Prince Edward, and his family.

The Daily Mail reports that Queen Elizabeth and Price Edward's wife, Sophie Wessex, are quite close. "Prince Edward and his family will be one of the two in her bubble," the Daily Mail's source confirmed.

As of now, though, it's unclear which other household will be invited to spend the holiday with Her Majesty. The only definite no is the Sussex Household, which contains Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, who will be spending the holidays in California.

Last year, Queen Elizabeth was joined by the majority of her extended family, which consists of four children, eight grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren, at her Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Countess Sophie all celebrated with the Queen.

Photo: Getty

E. White

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