What was meant to be a joyous occasion turned controversial when iconic footballer David Beckham was appointed as a charity ambassador for King Charles III.
The celebration was overshadowed by a shocking allegation from Beckham himself, claiming that Prince Harry had threatened to kill him over the new role. The tension reportedly stemmed from Harry's ongoing feud with Beckham, who has remained close to the royal family despite the Sussexes' acrimonious split. Insiders claimed that Harry was furious upon learning of Beckham's new position, which was believed to have been influenced by his brother, Prince William.
"Harry was absolutely livid. He felt this was a massive personal slight against him and Meghan," a source close to the Sussexes revealed. "He told Beckham that he would never forgive him and even went as far as to say he would kill him if he continued to side with the Royals."
Beckham, 48, was reportedly left shaken by the threat, which he says came during a heated phone call just after King Charles announced his new ambassadorship in August 2023. The former England captain had not spoken publicly about the incident until now. "I was frankly shocked and terrified by Harry's words. This was not the Harry I once knew; he sounded completely unhinged," Beckham told reporters. "I've always tried to remain neutral and supportive of the royal family, but I guess that makes me a target in Harry's eyes."
This shocking revelation comes at a tumultuous time for the monarchy, with tensions still high following the Sussexes' acrimonious departure from the UK in 2020. King Charles's decision to appoint Beckham as an ambassador for his charitable initiatives was seen by many as a strategic move to shore up public support for the monarchy. Insiders claim that William, who is set to become the Prince of Wales, may have played a key role in convincing his father to bring Beckham on board. As a close friend of the Beckhams, William is said to have vouched for David's integrity and commitment to the royal family's causes. "William has always had a lot of respect and admiration for David. He knew that bringing him on as an ambassador would be a real boost, not just for the charities but for the family's public image as well," a palace source revealed.
However, it seems Harry did not share his brother's enthusiasm for the move. The Duke of Sussex has long harbored resentment towards Beckham, dating back to the footballer’s close friendship with William and Kate. "Harry has never forgiven David for being so close to Will and Kate. He sees it as a betrayal and he's convinced that David is somehow conspiring against him and Meghan," the source added.
Tensions between the Sussexes and the Beckhams reportedly reached a fever pitch in the lead-up to Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding when Beckham was accused of leaking details about the nuptials to the press. "Harry believed, rightly or wrongly, that David was the one who spilled the beans about the wedding. That's when things really started to turn ugly between them," the insider said.
Despite the bad blood, Beckham has continued to maintain a cordial relationship with the rest of the royal family. He was a guest at both William and Kate's 2011 wedding, as well as Charles and Camilla's 2005 blessing ceremony. King Charles is said to be dismayed by the latest drama but remains steadfast in his support for Beckham's new role. The monarch is reportedly relying on William's instinctive judgment when it comes to navigating the family's many conflicts. "Charles knows that William has a good read on the situation. If William trusts David, then that's good enough for the king," the palace source said.
As for Beckham, he says he has no plans to back down in the face of Harry's threats. "I've spent my whole career dealing with criticism and pressure. A few angry phone calls from Harry aren't going to scare me off," he declared. "My commitment to the royal family and its causes is unwavering. I won't be bullied or intimidated, no matter who is doing the threatening."
