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Meghan Markle to spend Christmas with Royal Family at Sandringham

Meghan Markle will spend Christmas with Prince Harry and the Royal Family at Sandringham.

"You can expect to see The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Ms Markle at Sandringham on Christmas Day," a Kensington Palace spokesman said.

The move is a break in tradition, with Royal partners previously having to wait until they are married before being allowed to spend Christmas with the Queen and the rest of the family in Norfolk.

The Duchess of Cambridge was not invited to join Prince William in 2010 despite announcing their engagement a month before.

England rugby legend Mike Tindall was also not invited during his engagement to Princess Anne's daughter Zara Phillips, also in 2010.

:: Meghan Markle: It was an immediate 'yes' to Prince Harry proposal

Prince Harry and Ms Markle's engagement was announced on 27 November after he proposed earlier in the month.

The couple will get married at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in May 2018, with the Royal Family paying for the wedding.

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly were all married in the chapel.

American Ms Markle revealed last month she has met the Queen a couple of times and described her as an "incredible woman".

Every year the Royal Family enjoys three days of Christmas celebrations at the 20,000-acre Sandringham estate.

As part of the festivities the family will attend a Christmas Day service at the Church of St Mary Magdelene in the morning.

Fans start queuing up early to greet the Royals as they walk the 330 yards to the 16th-century church, normally led by Prince Philip.

It is believed the visit will be the first time Ms Markle has been surrounded by the entire Royal Family since she started dating Prince Harry in June 2016.

Last year Prince William and his family spent the day with the Duchess of Cambridge's parents at their home in Berkshire.