Victoria Beckham and Meghan Markle were once on the verge of a close friendship, but tensions arose leading to subtle snubs. Allegedly, the former Spice Girl offered an unsolicited beauty advice to the Suits star, but it only ended up offending her.
According to author Tom Bower in his revealing book The House of Beckham, the rift deepened after reports surfaced in The Sun about Victoria giving Markle makeup tips.
Moreover, Bower claimed in his investigation that Markle's husband, Prince Harry, was instructed to voice his displeasure to David Beckham, which further strained their relationships.
The soccer legend, 49, maintained his friendship with Harry's brother, Prince William, aggravating tensions with the Sussexes.
"Ever since the World Cup bid in 2010, the two had enjoyed a good relationship," Bower, 77, claimed. "For the Sussexes, who were already complaining about their unequal status and wealth compared to the Cambridges, the sight of Becks with William was annoying."
But according to Bower's book, Markle, had additional concerns. The California native allegedly became "irritated" by the Beckhams' wealth.
"In Meghan's celebrity world, ranking depended on wealth and fame. As a seasoned operator, Meghan deluded herself that her status in the royal family placed her above Victoria in the social pecking order," Bower wrote, also noting, "[Meghan and Harry] 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."
Moreover, Prince Harry, Markle allegedly asked the Spice-Girl-turned-fashion-designer for free clothes and handbags as well, but the request was "vetoed by [Buckingham] Palace for being against their rules."
The royal wedding in May 2018 occurred during a turbulent period in their relationship with the Beckhams, highlighted by a partial invitation that underscored their standing. While Victoria and David received invitations to the wedding ceremony, they were notably absent from the exclusive dinner that followed.
Relations appeared definitively strained when Markle and Harry were omitted from the guest list for the wedding of David and Victoria's son, Brooklyn Beckham, and Nicola Peltz in 2022.
Although William and Kate Middleton were invited, they politely declined.
In the aftermath of tensions between the couples, Victoria publicly praised Markle, recalling the Hollywood star's 2019 endorsement of "girl power."
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