Prince Harry's scathing family rift remark could see A-list friends take royal side
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have a host of A-list friends who have supported them - but many still maintain ties with the Royal Family
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's A-list circle might stand by the couple, yet it's doubtful they'll sever their Royal connections.
In a new interview with ITV, Harry has revealed that his determination to fight the tabloids over phone-hacking sparked a rift between himself and his family.
He told Rebecca Barry: "Yeah, that’s certainly a central piece to it. But, you know, that’s a hard question to answer because anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press. I’ve made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done. It would be nice if we, you know, did it as a family."
But it seems Harry's candid comments won't help relations with both his family and his famous friends.
The Sussexes' star-studded friendships have been in the spotlight since the early days of their romance, flourishing further post-nuptials. Post-wedding, silver screen icon George Clooney and his spouse Amal welcomed Harry and Meghan to their Lake Como abode, even offering their private jet for travel.
Idris Elba, who graced their 2018 wedding with wife Sabrina, not only attended but spun the decks at the reception, revealing that Meghan "let loose" on the dance floor to his beats. Additionally, Montecito neighbours Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry have struck a chord with the Sussexes, despite initial hiccups between Meghan and Katy.
Orlando has shown admiration for Harry's Royal ties, joining the couple at his wife's Las Vegas show. Yet, these celebrities maintain robust links with the Royal Family and their philanthropic projects, unlikely to be discarded.
Katy Perry, a Prince's Trust ambassador, performed at the King's Coronation last year and shared snippets of her experience and ensemble on Instagram, hinting at her Royal appreciation.
George and Amal Clooney have shown their support for King Charles III, attending a Prince's Trust event in London in May last year, despite not publicly taking sides in the Royal debate. Similarly, Idris Elba has kept up his relationship with the King, seen engaging in friendly conversation at a reception for African business leaders at Chapel Barracks in London.
He also serves as a goodwill ambassador for the Prince's Trust, Charles's charity.
Despite Meghan Markle's close friendship with Edward Enniful, the former British Vogue editor, he didn't hesitate to praise King Charles when writing his entry for the 100 Most Influential People of 2023 list. Describing him as "charming, funny and kind", Enniful maintains strong ties with the King's charity, having been appointed global ambassador for the Prince's Trust Group in 2021.
Meghan reportedly struck up a friendship with Victoria Beckham shortly after moving to the UK and during her time living at Frogmore Cottage. The Beckhams, particularly David who shares a bond with Prince Harry, welcomed Meghan into their six-bedroom Beverly Hills home prior to the Royal wedding.
However, relations between the Sussexes and the Beckhams soured amid suspicions that the latter had leaked stories about Victoria assisting Meghan to the press. This claim was denied by the former Spice Girl, leaving David reportedly "absolutely bloody furious."
An insider reportedly disclosed to the Mail on Sunday, "David and Victoria went to Meghan and Harry's wedding and were very supportive when Meghan arrived in the UK."
They followed up by saying, "Any making up now is so unlikely."
