Meghan Markle's relationship with A-list pals now - feuds, drifting apart and support

Millions of people worldwide watched Meghan Markle’s wedding but many of the Sussexes A-list friends are said to have “dropped” the royal and their friendship drifted apart.

Inside Meghan Markle’s relationship with A-list stars (Image: GETTY)

Meghan Markle has reached a new milestone as the Duchess of Sussex turns 43 today. The former Suits actress has established a tight-knit circle of celebrity friends including sports stars, actresses, television personalities and fashion designers.

The Duchess of Sussex is said to have had a “rift” with Victoria Beckham but she is not the only celebrity the former Hollywood actress is said to have drifted apart from.

Express.co.uk takes an inside look into Meghan’s celebrity friendships from feuds to those who went their separate ways and those who have continued supporting her.

Since leaving the royal family, alongside husband Prince Harry, in 2020 Meghan has been through a lot. While the married couple have had moments filled with good news and accomplishments, including welcoming their second child, daughter Lilibet in 2021, releasing their Netflix documentary and Meghan’s launch of American Riveria Orchard, they have also dealt with criticisms and media scrutiny.

The couple has had a whole village of friends to rely on through it all and have continued to be part of Meghan’s support system.

Meghan Markle celebrates a new milestone as she turns 43 (Image: Getty)

Serena Williams

The renowned tennis star and the Duchess of Sussex have been friends since 2014, and have continuously expressed their support for each other through the years.

Meghan opened up about their relationship in her blog post for The Tig that Serena had become a close “confidante”.

“So began our friendship,” she marked, and further recalled: “She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was traveling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down-to-earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto.”

Serena attended Meghan’s wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018 and the pair have continued to publicly support each other ever since.

Serena Williams and Meghan Markle pictured together at the 2024 ESPY Awards (Image: Getty)

Tyler Perry

In a heartwarming token of friendship, film producer Tyler Perry offered his home to Meghan, Harry and their eldest son Archie when the coronavirus pandemic broke out. At the time, their temporary place in Canada was already hounded by paparazzi.

“They hid out at my house for a long time,” Tyler told Kelly Ripa in the Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, per Vanity Fair. “It was so great.”

“We needed a house and he offered security as well,” Meghan said during her interview with Oprah. “So it gave us breathing room to try to figure out what we are going to do.”

Over a year later, Tyler became the godfather to the Sussexes’ second child, Lilibet.

US filmmaker Tyler Perry is a close friend of the Sussexes (Image: Getty)

Despite A-list stars offering a helping hand to the Sussexes some of their A-list friendships have come under scrutiny amid reports of a “feud”.

Victoria Beckham

The Beckhams and the Sussexes enjoyed a close friendship over the years, but cracks began to form.

The Duke of Sussex allegedly called David to accuse him and his wife Victoria of leaking stories, leaving David “furious”.

Cracks first started emerging in the pair’s friendship in spring 2022 when the former footballer invited Prince William and Kate to his son Brooklyn’s wedding – and not Harry and Meghan.

It was also reported Meghan had stopped wearing Victoria’s designs while Princess Kate had been seen wearing VB at events more frequently.

Victoria and David Beckham attended Meghan and Harry’s wedding at Windsor Castle (Image: Getty)

Meghan has since launched her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard and teased her project by sending some of her jam products to 50 big names, including Kris Jenner, actress Mindy Kaling and model Chrissy Teigen.

However, certain A-list celebrities didn’t appear to make that list as royal experts have suggested the Duchess of Sussex has “drifted apart” from these famous stars.

Oprah Winfrey

When Harry and Meghan stepped down from their senior roles as royals the couple had their first televised interview with legendary US presenter Oprah Winfrey.

As neighbours the Sussexes and Oprah are said to have grown close with the latter also attending the couple’s wedding.

However, Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell claimed their friendship has since “cooled off”.

He told Closer: “Back in the day, the A-listers were riding on the moment – Harry and Meghan were the most popular couple in the country at one time when they got married, but there’s since been a decline.

“Some already have done – Oprah no longer seems involved with them and some other celebrities have also dropped them.”