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According to reports, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are embroiled in a feud with David and Victoria Beckham, as a revelatory new book alleges deep tension between the two couples.
As per royal biographer Tom Bower, the Duchess of Sussex and Posh Spice fell out over requests for free clothing from Victoria’s eponymous fashion line, makeup tips and a “snubbing” during a visit to Australia—accounts that seemingly cultivated in the Beckhams being accused of leaking stories to the press.
Despite the former pop star and footballer attending Sussex’s 2018 wedding in Windsor Castle, Bower posits that a rift had begun to transpire in the lead-up to the nuptials. He claims that this divide was due to the Suits alumni’s irritation with the Beckhams’ fortune.
“In Meghan’s celebrity world, ranking depended on wealth and fame,” Bower writes. “As a seasoned operator, Meghan deluded herself that her status in the Royal family placed her above Victoria in the social pecking order.”
“[Meghan] 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. And she was soon to be a duchess.”
The unofficial biography also alleges that Markle felt she had “little in common” with Victoria. (Unlike the Spice Girl, Markle’s dad did not drive a Rolls Royce.) But if reports are to be believed, this didn’t stop the American Riviera Orchard founder from requesting free clothes (reportedly worth $11,000AUD) from Beckham’s label. As the royal’s strict style rules disavowed them from accepting gifts, Markle’s request was “vetoed by the Palace”.
Bower supposes the friction between the pair heightened when they were not requested to attend their wedding dinner, having only received an invite to the ceremony.
He suggests the final straw in their fractured relationship was when Prince Harry ignored David after he flew 22 hours to Sydney to attend the 2018 Invictus Games at the Spare author’s request.
Reports of their disagreement recirculated in August 2023 after reports proposed the six-time English captain was “absolutely bloody furious” after it was suggested they had shared private details with reporters. At the time, a source had claimed: “any making up now is so unlikely”. Now, almost a year on and on the eve of this damning book’s release, it’s apparent this statement might be more true than ever.
Victoria had previously sung Markle’s praises, calling her a “genuinely lovely woman” in an interview with the UK’s Evening Standard. It was also reported by Vanity Fair that Beckham had helped Markle become acquainted with some of the British Isles’ best designers and regularly sought her advice on what to wear.
“Meghan really likes Victoria’s style and was keen to pick her brains about pulling together a working wardrobe,” they said. Markle famously wore VB’s designs for her final royal outing at the 2020 Endeavour Fund Awards. Yes, that iconic image of the couple walking through the rain-filled London streets, beaming with the light of a pair who had just stepped back as senior royals.) See the look below.
