David Beckham has always been a known supporter of the Royal Family with him and wife Victoria, who turns 50 today, seemingly close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – but it appears that once close friendship may now be on the wane
It’s a big day for the Beckham family as they all rally around to celebrate fashion designer mum Victoria’s landmark 50th birthday.
But it’s unknown if their once close pals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be sending birthday wishes to the former Spice Girl. The Sussexes as well as Victoria and husband David Beckham are among the most famous in the world and are said to have shared a bond. But after reports of snubs, accusations and furious phone calls, it appears that the once cosy friendship may have cooled – and here we look at what exactly went on with the Duke and Duchess and the former football icon and his designer Spice Girl wife….
Early friendship
David and Victoria have been long-time friends of Harry as well as his older brother Prince William. In fact, during her Spice Girls days, Victoria met both of the princes, who were teenagers at the time, on several occasions, including at the premiere of SpiceWorld The Movie.
It appears that the Beckhams stayed on friendly terms with Harry and when he started dating Meghan and they were reportedly eager to make her feel welcome in the UK. In fact, there were reports that Victoria had given Meghan access to her little black book of her favourite hairdressers and stylists in London.
Biographer Tom Bower, who has written a book on Meghan and is now writing one on the Beckhams, claimed in The Sun the former footballer and fashion designer even offered the now Duchess of Sussex refuge at their Los Angeles home at a time when there was intense media interest about her.
Furious phone call
However, the first sign of tension came shortly after this, when reports about Victoria helping out Meghan were published – leaving the Sussexes upset. According to the Mail On Sunday, Harry confronted David with his suspicions in a phone call that left the ex-Manchester United star “furious”.
Harry and Meghan were said to be worried that close friends might be leaking stories about them and were keen to find out who could be behind it. It is alleged that in particular, Meghan suspected Victoria – and Harry called David to repeat the accusation. A source close to the Beckhams told the publication: “David and Victoria went to Meghan and Harry’s wedding and were very supportive when Meghan arrived in the UK.”
Invictus ‘snub’
Afterwards, the couples seemed to put the ordeal behind them with David and Victoria at St George’s Chapel in Windsor to see Harry and Meghan get married in May 2018. Victoria wore a chic navy dress and hat while David looked smart in a morning suit. Several months later, the royal couple headed off on a tour of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, which coincided with the 2018 Invictus Games, which were being held in Sydney. Harry and a pregnant Meghan appeared at the opening ceremony of the Games.
Harry is said to have asked David to be an ambassador for the Invictus Games – but things reportedly turned sour when the prince refused to see the former England football captain at the event in Sydney in 2018. It was claimed that the reason Harry was keeping his friend at arms’ length was Meghan – as she feared Victoria was leaking stories about her to the press.
“Having flown half-way around the world, he was perplexed why officials after he arrived at the sporting venue were playing a dance to keep him happy, but away from Harry,” Tom Bower writes for The Sun. “The reason for the distance was Meghan, the newly married Duchess of Sussex. She wanted no competition in the media from David, and especially not from his wife, Victoria.”
Fashion nods
But despite the growing tension, Meghan did wear some of Victoria’s designs after this. On Christmas Day in 2018, while pregnant with Prince Archie, she wore a Victoria Beckham navy coat during the royals annual walk to church in Sandringham. And just months later in March 2019, she wore a Victoria Beckham to the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey.
Former Suits actress Meghan previously spoke of Victoria in the press and admitted she didn’t have the right ‘silhouette’ to wear designs from the Spice Girl’s fashion label. Meghan, who is 5ft 6in, said: “What I’m starting to learn is, even though things look amazing on the hanger, it doesn’t mean they’re going to look amazing on me. For example I love Victoria Beckham dresses, but I don’t have the long torso to support that silhouette.”
Wedding no-show
Meanwhile more recently, there have been signs that all has not been right between the Sussexes and the Beckhams. In 2022 when David and Victoria’s eldest son Brooklyn married actress Nicola Peltz in a lavish wedding in Florida, Harry and Meghan were nowhere to be seen.
Similarly, last summer when David welcomed football superstar Lionel Messi to his Inter Miami team, a star-studded crowd were in attendance for his debut. Among them included Kim Kardashian, LeBron James and Serena William, a known BFF of Meghan, but again the Sussexes weren’t there.
However, Harry did attend a match between Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC, where he was seen fanboying over Miami’s star player Messi. But before kick-off, a list of “notable attendees” was distributed that showed Harry and Meghan would both be at the game. However, Meghan was nowhere to be seen and did not appear to join Harry in the stands.
In addition, all of those on the list had their jobs listed next to their names, except the Sussexes, who were just referred to as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. And even though some thought it might have been a sign of the feud being over, Harry was seen clutching a scarf for the LA – the opponents of Beckham’s team that night.
