They’ve built themselves a new life in Hollywood hotspot Montecito and are accustomed to rubbing shoulders with the stars, but recently it seems that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s social circle has become smaller and smaller, and their once close A-list pals have distanced themselves from the couple.
While Meghan, 42, once counted the Clooneys and Oprah Winfrey as close pals, reports have claimed that many of their celebrity friendships have dwindled. And insiders tell Closer that the their relationship with world-famous couple David and Victoria Beckham is now non-existent, and that Meghan has been “ghosted” by Posh, 50, altogether.
The insider says, “Meghan’s been shocked by how Vic seems to have given her the cold shoulder – even reaching out herself when her team received no response when requesting a dress.
“Meghan has been told that both Victoria and David may have disapproved of how she and Harry have behaved over the last few months and Meghan has noticed Vic pulling back, but never expected her to freeze her out like this. She feels personally ghosted by Victoria and feels that the relationship is now broken beyond repair.”
As the wife of one of the world’s best footballers, a fashion powerhouse and a pop star famed for championing “girl power”, Victoria was the perfect fit for the new BFF of Meghan when the former actress trail-blazed her way into the Royal Family when she wed Prince Harry in 2018.
Wearing a cream jumper by Posh’s fashion label for the official photographs announcing her engagement to Harry, 39, in 2017, Meghan quickly became a fan of the brand.
And Victoria’s attendance, alongside her husband David Beckham at the royal couple’s wedding appeared to cement their blossoming friendship.
Likewise, Harry and David, 50, had been long-term pals, having attended several sporting events and being pictured publicly together since 2011.
But all of that changed in 2020 when reports claimed that during a phone call to David, Harry had accused Posh of leaking stories about Meghan to the newspapers – allegedly leaving the football ace “absolutely b***dy furious”.
And despite Meghan continuing to wear Victoria’s brand – even choosing her sunglasses during a hike in California during King Charles’ Coronation – the Beckhams appeared to make a not-so-subtle show of allegiance by inviting Prince William and Kate Middleton instead of Meghan and Harry to their son Brooklyn’s 2022 wedding to Nicola Peltz.
Last month, the “enemy lines” appeared to be drawn once again when David met up with Charles – reportedly while the King was “too busy” to see Harry during his UK visit – and the pair apparently bonded over honey-making and David’s recently awarded new role of ambassador for The King’s Foundation charity.
Meanwhile, the source says Meghan was reportedly left “very upset” after being omitted from the invite list for Victoria’s star-studded 50th birthday bash.
But following the launch of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, in March, the insider says the Duchess has reached out to Posh, who she hopes will help salvage her plummeting popularity.
They say, “Meghan’s hoping she can claw things back and repair their friendship. Knowing how well-connected the Beckhams are with such a strong presence globally, Meghan hoped that her friendship with Victoria would help repair her tarnished image.
“She’s hell-bent on getting back in Vic’s good books amid a dwindling ‘little black book’ of celebrity ‘friends’.”
Meghan’s campaign to make amends with Posh comes after several rumoured fallouts with her celebrity pals, who are said to have distanced themselves amid the couple’s toxic feud with the royals.
While former close pal and Montecito neighbour Oprah continues to team up with wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow’s brand Goop, she noticeably failed to promote Meghan’s jam, despite several reports that she was among the 50 recipients to receive a jar.
And while Gwyneth and Meghan enjoyed a dinner out last May, the actress-turned-entrepreneur was excluded from the intimate Goop dinner – attended by Oprah – held at her Montecito home last month.
Former friends Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom are also said to have snubbed an invitation to Archie’s fifth birthday party last year, while Amal and George Clooney, who once holidayed with the couple, failed to invite them to their Albie Awards last October.
The only members of the Royal Family that Harry and Meghan are said to have remained close to are cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. But recently, the pair have stepped up to support Harry’s estranged brother Prince William amid both Kate and Charles’ cancer diagnoses.
Last month, after appearing at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party alongside William, Eugenie posted on Instagram, “Come rain or shine, I was delighted to support my family yesterday”.
And reports have claimed that now even the sisters have turned their back on the Sussexes, with an insider saying that they’re “overjoyed to be taking a more prominent role in the royal family”, and added that they “have barely had contact with Harry all year”.
And now, former royal butler Paul Burrell tells Closer, “Harry and Meghan’s circle is getting smaller and smaller. I think the A-list stars are dropping like flies. Some already have done – Oprah no longer seems involved with them and some other celebrities have also dumped them.
“Back in the day, the A-listers were riding on the moment – Harry and Meghan were the most popular couple in the country at one time, when they got married, but there’s since been a decline.
“Americans love the Royal Family, but are starting to understand that they are not part of the Royal Family – they are a side show, not a main event.”