What was once a close friendship between the Beckhams and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has turned cold, leaving the former England football captain and his fashion designer wife estranged from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. While both couples initially shared a tight bond, tensions gradually surfaced, leading to an eventual falling out. Allegations of leaked stories, public perceptions, and diverging loyalties within the British royal family have since contributed to the breakdown.
David Beckham, a self-professed royalist with long-standing ties to the royal family, was once a close confidante of Harry. However, the friendship reportedly began to unravel following Prince Harry and Meghan's marriage. Despite attending the royal wedding in 2018, rumors emerged that Meghan suspected Victoria Beckham of leaking private details to the press, sparking the first major dispute between the couples.
According to reports, Meghan believed that Victoria was behind certain press leaks, which led to a "mortifying" phone conversation between the husbands. "Harry was very polite, but obviously it was a pretty awkward exchange and David was mortified," a source told The Sun. The tension reportedly stemmed from Meghan's concern that Victoria had leaked stories about her personal life, though the idea that Victoria would contact the media directly was dismissed as "ridiculous" by those close to the Beckham family.
Despite their disagreements, David and Victoria were invited to the Sussexes' wedding at St. George's Chapel but were left off the guest list for the evening reception. Insiders speculated that the exclusion from the more intimate celebration added strain to the relationship, as the Beckhams had been close to Harry for many years. Following the wedding, Harry asked David to serve as an ambassador for the Invictus Games in 2018, but tensions remained, particularly during a tour of Australia when Harry allegedly refused to meet with David.
Since then, the couples have reportedly drifted apart. The Beckhams were absent from several key events in the Sussexes' lives, including the wedding of their eldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, in Florida in 2022. Despite the absence, David publicly expressed his admiration for Harry after the couple's decision to step down from royal duties in 2020. "We love him," David told Entertainment Tonight at the time, adding that he was "proud" to see Harry grow into fatherhood.
However, the relationship appeared to cool further after Harry and Meghan's repeated criticisms of the royal family in public interviews and documentaries. As an ardent supporter of the monarchy, David's loyalty to the royal family became a point of contention. Royal expert Richard Eden noted, "It is perhaps no surprise that the Sussexes' attacks on the Royal Family failed to impress the Beckhams." David famously queued for over 12 hours to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II when she lay in state, further underscoring his dedication to the royal family.
In contrast, David has maintained close ties with Prince William and King Charles. He was recently spotted at an RAF charity event alongside William, where the two shared smiles and laughter, fueling speculation of the growing distance between the Beckhams and the Sussexes. William and David's friendship dates back years, with the former footballer having attended William's 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton, where Kate wore a Victoria Beckham-designed dress. More recently, David joined William and Kate in Boston for the second annual Earthshot Prize awards, where he presented one of the event's major prizes.
Victoria Beckham, for her part, has shown little interest in repairing the rift. According to sources close to the designer, Victoria "never really liked Meghan much" and felt no need to maintain a friendship. "She was friendly and welcoming to her, but is not bothered about staying in touch," a source told The Daily Mail. Victoria had initially offered support to Meghan when she moved to London, even sharing her contacts for top hairstylists and personal services. But the fallout over the press leaks and the eventual distance between the couples appeared irreparable.
Adding to the tension is David's ongoing relationship with key members of the royal family. In 2022, David was named a King's Foundation ambassador, further strengthening his ties with King Charles. A series of photographs released to mark the occasion showed David standing alongside the monarch at Charles's Gloucestershire estate, Highgrove, and engaging with students at the Snowdon School of Furniture.
While neither couple has made public statements about the fallout, the separation between the Beckhams and the Sussexes has become more pronounced over the years. The Beckhams' decision to align more closely with William and Charles suggests that they have firmly chosen their side in the ongoing tensions within the British royal family. For now, it seems unlikely that the once-close friendship between the Beckhams and the Sussexes will be repaired, as both couples continue on their divergent paths.
