David Beckham seems to have forged a close friendship with both King Charles and Prince William – but it seems that his once friendly bond with Prince Harry has faded, especially in recent times…
His working-class roots in East London and his former footballing career means David Beckham never seemed likely to one day count royalty as close friends. But the former England captain has somehow become a regular fixture at royal events, often being pictured with the likes of King Charles and Prince William.
And today the star’s royal connections were on show once again as he had a surprise meeting with the King at the Chelsea Flower Show. At the event, Beckham discussed his recent 50th birthday celebrations, with Queen Camilla asking about his fashion designer wife Victoria, who she met in March at a charity gig. Giving the royal couple an update on his wife, he said: “She’s doing very well. I had a busy weekend this weekend, so it was a lot of fun, a lot of fun.”
The King and Queen are even understood to have sent Beckham a birthday gift, with Charles asking him “You got it, didn’t you?” And Beckham replied: “It was incredible, thank you, it was very kind.” Later Camilla said: “Nice to see you again, glad you got the roses.”
But despite his seemingly close royal friendships, there is one member of the Firm where it seems relations have cooled…
King Charles
As a former Spice Girl, Beckham’s wife Victoria had several encounters with the King before he ascended to the throne, including one where he was showered with their kisses. But it seems it’s Beckham himself who now shares a closer bond with the monarch. Last year, it was reported that the two men shared a private meeting despite the King’s estranged son Prince Harry being in Britain at the time.
Weeks later, it was revealed exactly what that meeting was about as the ex-England football captain was named a King’s Foundation ambassador. In photographs released to mark the announcement, Beckham was pictured with the King on the doorstep of Highgrove, Charles’ Gloucestershire retreat, and shown trying out his carpentry skills with foundation students taking part in woodworking courses at the Snowdon School of Furniture.
The pair also swapped beekeeping tips as both have hives and Beckham said: “Having developed a love for the countryside I’m also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which is so central to the foundation’s work. It was inspiring to hear from the King about the work of His Majesty’s foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens – and compare beekeeping tips!”
Weeks later, the two men caught up again at the inaugural King’s Foundation awards at Buckingham Palace – and chatted about football by discussing England’s chances in the Euro 2024 championships. Then last December, Beckham and wife Victoria joined the King and hundreds of other guests for a banquet at Buckingham Palace during the Qatar state visit.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, in a much more intimate gathering, the couple also joined Charles and Camilla for a dinner at Highgrove that celebrated ties between the UK and Italy.
Prince Harry
When it comes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Beckham’s friendship seems far less cosy. At first, it seemed the Sussexes were on very friendly terms with the Beckhams and they were reportedly eager to make Meghan feel welcome in the UK. In fact, there were reports that Victoria had given Meghan access to her little black book of her favourite hairdressers and stylists in London.
However, the first sign of tension came shortly after this, when reports about Victoria helping out Meghan were published – leaving the Sussexes upset. According to the Mail On Sunday, Harry confronted David with his suspicions in a phone call that left the ex-Manchester United star “furious”.
Afterwards, the couples seemed to put the ordeal behind them with David and Victoria at St George’s Chapel in Windsor to see Harry and Meghan get married in May 2018. Victoria wore a chic navy dress and hat while David looked smart in a morning suit. Several months later, the royal couple headed off on a tour of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, which coincided with the 2018 Invictus Games, which were being held in Sydney. Harry and a pregnant Meghan appeared at the opening ceremony of the Games.
Harry is said to have asked David to be an ambassador for the Invictus Games – but things reportedly turned sour when the prince refused to see the former England football captain at the event in Sydney in 2018. It was claimed that the reason Harry was keeping his friend at arms’ length was Meghan – as she feared Victoria was leaking stories about her to the press.
Just last week, Harry’s relationship with the Beckham clan took an unexpected turn when it emerged David’s oldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz had been for dinner at the Sussexes’ California home. Both Harry and Brooklyn are both embroiled in bitter feuds that have seemed to tear their families apart.
It is believed that Harry and wife Meghan hosted Brooklyn and his wife Nicola at their Montecito mansion just days after Brooklyn skipped his dad David’s 50th birthday celebrations amid a family row.
According to The Sun, the invitation that Brooklyn and Nicola received to attend the event was ‘unexpected’ but one they gratefully received after feeling “battle-wounded” by the family feud. Victoria and David are said to have ‘shuddered in horror’ over the ‘new friendship’, the Daily Mail reports.
Harry has also been grappling with his own family row and earlier this month claimed the King will not speak to him and he does not know “how much longer my father has” as he spoke of his hopes for a “reconciliation” with his family. A source told the publication: “Harry and Meghan were very empathetic and very kind to them both. “Harry was fully aware of the situation and offered Brooklyn his unwavering support as someone who has been through similar.”
Prince William
Like Harry, William has known David and Victoria for many years with the Beckhams being at Westminster Abbey when the now Prince of Wales married Kate Middleton back in 2011. In 2022, David joined both William and Kate when they travelled to Boston for the Prince of Waleses’ second annual Earthshot Prize awards, where he presented one of the prizes at one of William’s main projects.
And just last year, Beckham joined the heir to the throne at a fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance. During an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Becks was asked about his royal pals and recent work with the monarchy. And he became emotional and admitted he always gets “emotional talking about anything that I do with our Royal Family”.
When it came to William, Becks said that he’s joined forces with the Prince “whenever he’s asked me to get involved”. He explained: To be involved in that has always been a ‘yes’ for me. Whenever the Prince of Wales sends me a message and says ‘I need you to do this’ or ‘be there’, it’s always a ‘yes’.”
When it came to his role with Charles’ King’s Foundation, he praised the monarch as an incredible man and revealed his mum Sandra burst into tears when he told her he’d been asked to be an ambassador for the charity. He added: ” She knows my grandparents would have been proud that I have played such an important role in the Royal Family and the charities that they have.”