An explosive new biography about the Beckhams claims that Meghan Markle deluded herself into thinking she outranked Victoria Beckham in social standing.
These assertions are made by celebrity biographer Tom Bower in his tell-all book, "The House of Beckham," which details the tumultuous relationships between David Beckham and other celebrities. Reflecting on the relationship between the Beckhams and the Sussexes, Bower alleges that Meghan initially adopted a superior attitude around Victoria.
This attitude reportedly stemmed from Meghan's Californian background, making her feel little in common with the former Spice Girl and her status within the royal family. In Meghan's world of celebrity, social ranking depended on wealth and fame, Bower wrote. As a seasoned operator, Meghan deluded herself into believing that her royal status placed her above Victoria in the social hierarchy. However, she was irritated to discover that the Beckhams had considerably more wealth than she did. They owned five homes, had constant access to private jets, invitations to sail on yachts, and much more money, while she was only soon to become a Duchess.
Despite Meghan's alleged decision to place herself above Victoria in her internal social ranking, the Beckhams reportedly made an effort with the former "Suits" star due to a long-standing friendship with Prince Harry and Prince William. Bower claimed that after Meghan became a resident at Kensington Palace, a member of Victoria’s staff offered Harry’s fiancée advice on the best facials and hairdressing in London. The soon-to-be Duchess allegedly asked Victoria for free clothes and handbags, but this was vetoed by the palace for being against their rules.
Meghan reportedly took advantage of the Beckhams' hospitality during a private trip to Los Angeles, staying in their Beverly Hills residence to avoid paparazzi at no cost. All her needs were secretly provided for by the Beckham staff, Bower wrote. If there was a hint that Meghan was taking advantage of her new status, the Beckhams pushed their gripes aside. However, the relationship allegedly soured after a story in The Sun reported that Victoria had given Meghan makeup advice. Sensitive to media probing into her unusual past, Meghan was outraged by The Sun’s report. Bower explained that Harry was ordered to complain to David, leading David Beckham to question his wife on how The Sun got the information. Victoria reportedly denied involvement and blamed the butler, though Bower suggests the culprit was likely a boastful publicist employed by the Beckhams.
Further complicating matters was Prince William's ongoing friendship with the Beckhams. Ever since the World Cup bid in 2010, the two enjoyed a good relationship, Bower wrote. For the Sussexes, who were already complaining about their unequal status and wealth compared to the Cambridges, the sight of the Beckhams with William was irritating. In a bid to punish the Beckhams, the Sussexes chose not to invite them to the wedding dinner, despite inviting other celebrities like George Clooney, whom Meghan didn’t personally know.
The relationship between the two couples is now described as frosty by commentators. An anonymous insider told the Mirror on Sunday that reconciliation is unlikely after David was left "bloody furious" by the accusation that the Beckhams had leaked information about the Sussexes to the press. In his previous book, "Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors," Bower claimed that Meghan failed to return a pair of Aquazzura shoes after a fashion photo shoot, sparking a social media storm. The book also suggested that Meghan complained about the size of a hotel room at the four-star Place d’Armes and requested to be registered under an alias to avoid being photographed before her relationship with Prince Harry became public.
