.:-:. William and Kate WILL spend Christmas Day with Harry and Meghan under the Queen's watchful eye at Sandringham .:-:.

© ASSOCIATED PRESS Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and from left, Meghan the Duchess of Sussex,  

Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate the Duchess of Cambridge watch a flypast of Royal Air Force aircraft pass over Buckingham Palace in London, Tuesday, July 10, 2018. 

Various events were held Tuesday to mark 100-years since the formation of the RAF.(AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Prince Harry and Meghan and Prince William and Kate will be spending Christmas day together at Sandringham, Kensington Palace has confirmed.

Despite rumours of a rift between the couples, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be joined by Prince William and Kate to celebrate the festive day with the Queen in Norfolk.

The news comes amid reports of a significant falling out between Kate and Meghan and a growing strain between the two couples.

 
© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Prince Harry and Meghan and Prince William and Kate will be spending Christmas day together at Sandringham, Kensington Palace has confirmed

Kensington Palace today confirmed the couples would be spending the day at the royal estate but could not confirm where they would spend the remainder of the festive period. 

Last month rumours began to surface of a growing tension between Kate and Meghan after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were moving out of Kensington Palace to live in a cottage in Windsor.

There were also reports of a falling out between Meghan and Kate during ­Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress fitting before the royal wedding earlier this year. 

 
© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited In spite of the reported rift and rumours of the couples going their separate ways, Christmas at Sandringham this year will mark a show of solidarity between the royals

It had previously been claimed that Prince William and Kate, both 36, would spend Christmas day with the Middleton family in Berkshire as they did in 2016 while Prince Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, would spend it with the Queen.  

However in spite of the reported rift and rumours of the couples going their separate ways, Christmas at Sandringham this year will mark a show of solidarity between the royals.  

Christmas day at Sandringham House is a highly traditional affair with Royal biographer Christopher Wilson calling it an 'ordeal'.

   

© Thomson Reuters Britain's Prince Harry, his fiancee Meghan Markle, Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

The family traditionally follow the German tradition of Heiligabend Bescherung, where they open their presents on Christmas eve.

On Christmas day, the women of the house opt for a light breakfast of sliced fruit while the male royals head downstairs for a hearty English breakfast.