The Beckhams and the Sussexes were once the pinnacle of a tight-knit celebrity friendship yet things became irreparable between them following a very bitter fallout
Victoria and David Beckham cut ties with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Image: WireImage)
Victoria and David Beckham’s friendship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seemed like the dream celebrity power couple bond. The Spice Girl and fashion designer welcomed Meghan will open arms as she gave up her life in Toronto for UK royalty.
She is said to have made a real effort with the royal, due to the Beckhams’ existing connection to Prince William and Harry. Victoria felt close enough to Meghan to open up her little black book of contacts including the best facials and hairdressers in town.
The Beckhams and Sussexes became close, with the royals depending on Posh and Becks as they battled with their royal spotlight. Harry and Meghan are said to have even borrowed David and Victoria’s LA mansion to hide away in three years before shunning the UK for good.
Prince Harry and Meghan were once close with Posh and Becks
It all seemed perfect, yet tension was clearly brewing under the surface and things eventually came to blows. Their friendship soon turned sour thanks to a series of blows dealt the Beckhams’ way.
Tom Bower claimed in his book, The House of Beckham: “As a seasoned operator, Meghan deluded herself that her status in the Royal Family placed her above Victoria in the social pecking order.
“She was irritated to discover that the Beckhams had considerably more wealth than herself. They owned five homes, had constant access to private jets, invitations to sail on yachts and much more money.”
Meghan started to distrust Victoria and even accused her of leaking stories to the press. When details of the Beckhams’ generosity was published in various newspapers, the Sussexes were said to be furious and blamed the Beckhams for leaking stories, despite the couple firmly denying they had anything to do with it.
Bower claimed a series of petty “punishments” tore the once-close couples apart once and for all.
The sportsman and Victoria were invited the Harry and Meghan’s star-studded wedding in 2018, but in a blow the Beckhams missed out on an invitation to the reception.
David and Victoria attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding but didn’t get a reception invite(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Their friendship deteriorated further when David, at the request of Prince Harry, flew to Australia to join him for the Invictus Games. However, when the ex-footballer arrived Down Under, he was snubbed by Harry, who reportedly refused to see him or take pictures with him, as Meghan feared David would “overshadow” her husband.
“She wanted no competition in the media from David. It seemed she was not prepared to tolerate anything flattering regarding the Beckhams and the Games to appear in the media,” biographer Tom Bower wrote in his book Revenge.
Insiders have claimed that the Beckhams haven’t tried to stay in touch with the Sussexes, especially after their bitter fallout. “Both David and Victoria put great importance on family and would never, ever turn on their relations the way that Harry and Meghan did,” a source told the Daily Mail.
“The truth is that Victoria never really liked Meghan much. She was friendly and welcoming to her but is not bothered about staying in touch.”
Their fallout has resurfaced once again as David and Victoria were said to be blindsided their eldest son Brooklyn was invited to an intimate dinner with Harry and Meghan.
It comes amid the Beckhams’ own family rift as Brooklyn and wife Nicola Peltz failed to attend any of David’s 50th birthday celebrations.