Pregnant Meghan’s attendance at the Boxing Day shoot lunch is a huge vote of confidence in the long standing royal tradition, despite her love of animals
PRINCE Harry headed out on the annual Boxing Day shoot yesterday - quashing rumours wife Meghan Markle had banned him from the royal tradition.
The pregnant Duchess of Sussex is said to be against blood sports but put aside her objections and joined her husband's family, including the Duchess of Cambridge, for a lunch of cold cuts and salads after the shoot.
Meghan’s attendance is a huge vote of confidence in the long standing royal tradition, despite her love of animals.
Harry, 34, missed last year’s event in a move seen as a show of respect for Meghan, 37. But yesterday he joined brother Prince William, 36, and dad Prince Charles, 70, on the hunt for pheasants on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
An insider said: “William and Harry spent the whole day on the shoot. Kate and Meghan joined them for lunch with the Queen and the rest of the Royal party.”
The Royal Family had gathered at Wood Farm, a five-bedroom farmhouse favoured by 97-year-old Prince Philip.
The Duke of Edinburgh did not take part in the hunt but he and the Queen also joined the party for lunch.
And the Royal Family put on a united front for the festive season, despite claims Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have a tense relationship.
The Duchesses walked side by side with broad smiles on their way to a Christmas service at Sandringham after months of speculation they had clashed.
In one incident, Meghan was even said to have made Kate cry over her strict demands for Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid's dress in the lead up to her May wedding.
Annual Boxing Day shoot is a tradition for the royal family and it was thought Meghan Markle had banned HarryThe insider said: “The Queen will be delighted that Kate and Meghan have sorted out their problems and that the year has ended on a high with the whole family in harmony."
Boxing Day is said to have gone through without a hitch, with the men having a hearty breakfast to start their day.
A source told : "The men went out as usual for the shoot after a hearty breakfast.
"A buffet is laid out of kedgeree, bacon and eggs, cereals and toast to set them up for the day.
"It's cold trudging across the muddy fields so you need plenty of sustenance."
In her younger days, the Queen would even follow the shooting party, picking up pheasants and partridges that had been shot.
But yesterday, the 92-year-old stayed inside, with pregnant Meghan also avoiding the cold.
At lunchtime, the members of the Royal Family are understood to have gathered at Wood Farm, with Meghan arriving with the Queen and Prince Philip.
The gathering, which included newlyweds Princess Eugenie and Jack Brookbanks, saw the royals tuck into a lunch including cold meats, hot sausages and salads along with spirits and tea.
A source claimed: "The whole thing is incredibly relaxed and everyone is normally in a great mood."
Soon-to-be parents Harry and Meghan are believed to have left Norfolk last night, with it speculated they then went to spend time with the former actress' mother Doria.
The Cambridges also headed off, with reports they then went to spend time with the Middletons in Berkshire.
Claims that Prince Harry might miss the traditional shoot stemmed from Meghan Markle being a keen animal lover.
An insider previously told "Meghan is a keen animal lover and likes to eat vegan during the week and she has a strict no-fur policy,
"She has also been encouraging Harry to eat less meat and more fruit and veg and is now keen to fully convert him to her views on hunting."
Meghan's day with the Royal Family comes after her estranged half-sister claimed the Duchess of Sussex had not called their father for Christmas for the second time in a row.
Taking to Twitter, Samantha wrote: "My life is great and after having a heart attack the wedding and now two Christmases she does not even call him. Humanitarian my a**."
And she retracted her Christmas message to Meghan adding: "I retract the merry Christmas, you don’t deserve it. How dare you walk into a church."
