Like most families this year, Christmas will not be the same due to the coronavirus pandemic, with many not being able to spend it with their loved ones. But despite the physical distance, Ms Middleton said it was still important for her family to feel “connected”.
Unlikely to be able to spend the festive season with her four grandchildren – including Pippa’s son Arthur – the grandmother is changing up her traditional celebration by using video calls.
She said: “We may not be able to get together but, after a year like 2020, we need to remember what’s important this Christmas.
“For me, what really matters is that my family feels connected.
“I normally let my grandchildren help me decorate the tree.
“This year, I’ll ask them by video call to decide which decoration should go where.
“It may need to be tastefully rearranged later.”
The Queen is also facing a similarly stripped-back Christmas.
For the first time in 33 years, the Royal Family’s annual Christmas in Sandringham may be impossible due to the coronavirus pandemic.
READ MORE: Royal Christmas: Queen to sacrifice Sandringham for ‘simpler’ plans
Another insider previously told : “Nothing has been resolved as staff are still refusing to quarantine from their families.
“So it’s looking almost certain they can’t have Christmas inside the big house at Sandringham.
“It is possible, of course, to arrange a smaller one for Philip and the Queen at Wood Farm cottage.
“But moving the Queen and Duke to Windsor, where they know the bubble works, makes it simpler to start planning to stay there for Christmas.”
Earlier this year, it was revealed the Queen has ruled out attending church in the Christmas royal tradition in a bid to prevent the usual crowds gathering for the annual family turnout.
This is thought to be only the third time in her reign she will not attend church with her family on Christmas Day – and the first time the Windsors have not attended en masse in that time.
The Queen is facing another heartbreak this festive season by not being able to see her great-grandson Archie.
As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are currently living in Los Angeles with their son, their plans to return this year have been thwarted multiple times due to the pandemic.
A spokesperson for the couple said they are unlikely to travel this Christmas due to the focus being on Meghan’s adjourned trial against the Associated Newspapers Ltd.
The spokesperson said: “It is unlikely the Duke and Duchess will be travelling before the end of the year because the focus had been the trial in January.
“As that is no longer happening, there are no plans to travel at the moment, but any travel plans will be kept under review.”
