The first sign of the ‘Fab Four’ fallout between Prince Harry, Prince William, Princess Kate, and Meghan Markle has reportedly been traced back to the Christmas of 2018, when the royal couples had separate parties to celebrate the festive season.
At the time, it was reported how Prince Harry and Meghan had opted to stay at the Queen’s Sandringham estate “packed like sardines”, rather than stay with William and Kate in their 10-bedroom home at Kensington Palace nearby.
However, it wasn’t until May 2019 – five months later – that Harry and Meghan were reported as splitting from William and Kate’s household, the Mirror reports.
James Holt, the executive director of the Harry and Meghan’s Archwell Foundation, revealed in the couple’s Netflix documentary that a festive celebration due to be hosted by Kensington Palace for William, Kate, Harry, Meghan and their staff ended up as two parties.
Mr Holt, who was head of communications for the Royal Foundation at the time, said that as everyone was “gearing up for one big party” very shortly before the festivities were to begin, “it became two parties”.
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Mr Holt said in Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary: “Every year Kensington Palace hosts a Christmas party for the principals and the staff.
“And so we were gearing for one big party and very shortly before the party, it became two parties.”
He added: “Actually that was the point that you realise that these offices are separating.”
At the time in 2018, speculation was swirling about the ‘Fab Four’, even though they still appeared walking together in seemingly good spirits to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, before spending Christmas Day together with the rest of the Royal Family.
In June 2019, Harry and Meghan announced they would launch their own foundation which is known as Archwell, then in early 2020, the couple stepped back from their roles as senior royals.
