“Harry Was Very Polite, But It Was Pretty Awkward” Beckhams and Sussexes’ Friendship in Turmoil

Once celebrated as two of the world’s most iconic couples with a close-knit friendship, the relationship between the Beckhams and the Sussexes appears to have deteriorated significantly in recent years.

Initially, David and Victoria Beckham went out of their way to welcome Meghan Markle to the UK. Reports even suggested that Victoria had shared her exclusive list of top London hairdressers and stylists with Meghan. However, this gesture marked a turning point. When private details of their friendship, including Victoria’s offers of assistance, began appearing in the media, Meghan allegedly suspected Victoria of leaking the information, leading to a “mortifying” phone call between their husbands.

A source told The Sun about the awkward exchange: “Harry was very polite, but obviously it was a pretty awkward exchange and David was mortified. Inexplicably, [Meghan] feared Victoria was behind it — I mean, the idea that Victoria Beckham would be personally ringing journalists to give them a scoop is ridiculous — and spoke to Harry about it.”

In defense of his wife, Harry directly confronted David. Despite the awkwardness, the two men decided to move past the incident, but the tension lingered. This was evident when David and Victoria attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018 but were not invited to the wedding dinner, which reportedly upset the Beckhams.

Complications grew when the royals embarked on a tour of Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, coinciding with the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney. Although David was an ambassador for the event and traveled to Australia, Harry reportedly refused to meet with him, which was said to be influenced by Meghan’s lingering suspicions about Victoria.

Further signs of the strained relationship emerged in 2022. When David and Victoria’s eldest son Brooklyn married actress Nicola Peltz in a grand wedding in Florida, Harry and Meghan were notably absent. Similarly, during Lionel Messi’s debut for David’s Inter Miami team, the Sussexes were nowhere to be seen despite the star-studded crowd.

A significant factor contributing to the rift appears to be David’s close relationship with Prince William and King Charles. The Beckhams have known William for many years and attended his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. Kate has also been seen wearing Victoria Beckham’s designs. In 2022, David joined William and Kate in Boston for the Prince of Wales’s Earthshot Prize awards, where he presented one of the prizes.

Moreover, David was recently named a King’s Foundation ambassador by King Charles. Photos released to mark the announcement showed him with the King at Highgrove, Charles’ Gloucestershire estate, engaging in various activities, including carpentry with foundation students and discussing beekeeping, a shared interest.

Earlier this week, David and Charles caught up again at the inaugural King’s Foundation awards at Buckingham Palace. They were seen in friendly conversation, discussing football and England’s chances in the Euro 2024 championships.

These developments highlight the growing distance between the Sussexes and the Beckhams, underscored by David’s closer ties to the senior members of the royal family.