The Sussexes are reportedly struggling to rebuild one high-profile friendship as they settle back into life in the Cotswolds
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly facing an awkward setback as they attempt to establish a new life in the UK – with one of the country’s most influential celebrity couples allegedly refusing to welcome them back into their social circle.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to Britain earlier this month and are expected to spend more time in the country, with the Cotswolds reportedly becoming an increasingly important base for the family.
The area is home to a string of famous faces, including Kate Moss, Hugh Grant and Liam Gallagher, as well as members of the Royal Family.
Meghan, 45, has also reportedly been exploring some of the exclusive hotspots popular with the local celebrity set, including Soho Farmhouse.
But while the Duchess may be hoping to reconnect with some old friends, one famous couple – David and Victoria Beckham are allegedly making it clear that their relationship remains firmly in the past.
Meghan and Victoria Beckham were once close
Speaking to Heat, an insider said that Meghan had hoped to reconnect with her once close friend Victoria Beckham.
The source said: “There was a time when Victoria and Meghan were as thick as thieves. There was even some talk when they were friends that they might team up on a project, so to now be completely out of touch is pretty sad.
“It is very sad from both Meghan and Harry’s perspective that things have fallen apart so badly with the Beckhams because they genuinely feel that what happened in the first place was more of a misunderstanding than anything else; they certainly never expected it to be a reason for David and Victoria to ghost them and end an entire friendship.”
The source added that Harry and Meghan have allegedly made attempts to repair the relationship, but have received little response.
“They have both tried very hard to fix things and there’s been nothing in return, not even a welcome back message, so the Beckhams’ stance has become even more clear since she and Harry arrived back in England,” they claimed.
The reported rift dates back to 2018, when David Beckham was said to have been left furious after Harry allegedly accused Victoria of leaking stories about Meghan to the press.
Neither David nor Victoria has publicly confirmed the claims.
The Beckhams have moved closer to the royals
The former friends’ relationship reportedly became even more complicated as the years passed.
David and Victoria Beckham have remained close to members of the Royal Family, with David receiving a knighthood for his services to sport and charity, in the King’s Birthday Honours last year.
Meghan, meanwhile, has previously appeared to make what some saw as an attempt to repair relations with Victoria, wearing one of the designer’s creations during her 2024 trip to Colombia.
However, according to the Heat source, the gesture did not lead to a reconciliation.
The alleged snub could be particularly frustrating for Meghan because Victoria is now an established figure in the fashion and lifestyle world – an area Meghan is also trying to make her mark in through her As Ever brand.
Could the rift affect Meghan’s UK ambitions?
The insider claimed Meghan would have benefited from Victoria’s experience as she attempts to build her lifestyle business in Britain.
“Having to be reminded of how successful Victoria’s brand has become is tough because there’s no doubt Meghan would love her advice when it comes to turning her own brand around and that’s simply not an option,” the insider told Heat.
The source went further, claiming the Sussexes could even be concerned about Victoria’s influence within celebrity circles.
“What’s worse is the fear that Victoria could go so far as to sabotage Meghan’s chances in the UK since there’s obviously some pretty bad blood on her part,” the insider said.
They added: “Victoria is known to be very competitive, and Meghan will be going for a similar target audience with her lifestyle brand As Ever so it’s not out of the question.”
The source also pointed to filmmaker Guy Ritchie, who is said to be close to Victoria and has reportedly been involved in discussions with Meghan over an acting opportunity.
There is no suggestion that Victoria has actually attempted to sabotage Meghan’s career.
A friendship that became a royal headache
The reported fallout is also said to have been complicated by the Sussexes’ relationships with other members of the Beckham family.
Harry and Meghan were reportedly close to David and Victoria’s eldest son Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz-Beckham, including reportedly hosting them for a private dinner at their Montecito home.
That relationship is said to have caused further upset for the Beckhams
Meanwhile, the Sussexes are reportedly convinced that Prince William may have played a role in the breakdown of their friendship with David and Victoria.
The Heat source claimed: “Naturally they are going to assume that William has a big hand in the way this has all shaped up and how long it’s dragged on. Everyone knows how big he is on loyalty; he always wants to see who is on his side and who’s not.”
They continued: “Anyone that’s friendly with Harry and Meghan is automatically seen as an enemy by William, and he and Kate are the next King and Queen, so it makes a lot of sense that David and Victoria would want to be Team Wales and do whatever William asks.”
There is no evidence presented to support the claim that William has influenced the Beckhams’ relationship with Harry and Meghan.
For Meghan, however, the alleged rejection is said to be particularly painful.
“They [Harry and Meghan] still feel that they were very unfairly tossed aside,” the insider told Heat. “It was particularly bewildering for Meghan because she genuinely idolized Victoria and was so thrilled to be her friend. She was able to sort of forget about it these last few years in California since they didn’t have to cross paths much, but now that she’s back in England that’s not easy to do.”
With Meghan and Harry now reportedly spending more time in the Cotswolds, their paths could cross with the Beckhams and their wider celebrity circle more frequently – potentially making an already complicated relationship even harder to ignore.
