Duchess Catherine’s parents will not be invited to eat Christmas lunch with the British royal family.
Though it has been claimed the duchess, her husband Prince William and their 15-month-old son Prince George will spend the festive season at their Anmer Hall residence in Norfolk, East England so they can be with both their families, royal insiders insist it is "highly unlikely" that Carole and Michael Middleton will be invited to any of the main celebrations of William’s relatives at Queen Elizabeth’s nearby Sandringham estate.
A source told the Daily Mail newspaper: "It is highly unlikely that Kate’s family will be invited to the big Christmas lunch, or the famous Boxing Day shoot.
"Perhaps one day they will be invited to the big house for tea, but not for lunch or dinner, and not on Christmas Day."
The insider insisted the decision not to extend an invitation to Carole or Michael is not a personal insult to Catherine – who was known as Kate Middleton before her marriage – but was made for practical reasons.
The source explained: "The queen is fond of Kate and doesn’t mean to exclude her family – indeed she has broken many of the old rules for them in the past.
"But if all of her children and grandchildren’s wives had their families to lunch, there wouldn’t be enough room, even at Sandringham House’s dining room."
According to the source, the Middleton family are likely to be at the Christmas morning church service at Sandringham but then will return to Anmer Hall for the rest of the day.
Catherine – who is expecting her second child – will then join her relatives, including siblings Pippa and James, for further celebrations later.
Middletons won’t spend Christmas with royals
