Harry and Meghan extend olive branch out to David and Victoria Beckham with invitation
EXCLUSIVE: The Beckhams are said to be among VIP invitees for Meghan's A List party for Harry's 40th birthday at their $14.7 million mansion in California.
Prince Harry’s 40th birthday celebration could turn into a test of true friendship this weekend….. if he and Meghan are reunited with David and Victoria Beckham.
The Beckhams are said to be among VIP invitees at an A List party Meghan is throwing for Harry at their $14.7 million mansion in Montecito, California on Sunday night.
Other guests reportedly include near neighbours and friends Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ellen DeGeneres and pop stars Katy Perry and Ariana Grande, as well as Hollywood power brokers and Harry’s polo pal Nacho Figueras.
But a business source close to one invitee said last night: “All eyes will be on the Beckhams – if they come – and how they interact with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following a lot of stories about their big falling out.
“David is very much treated like sporting royalty here in America, so it will be fascinating to see if both sides can bury the hatchet.”
Today’s invitation is thought to be another “olive branch” to football icon David, 49, and his 50-year-old fashion designer and former Spice Girl wife in a peacemaking move by Meghan to repair their rift.
The once-close couples have seen cracks appear in their relationship since Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018, with David reportedly “furious” over a call from the Duke allegedly accusing him and Victoria of “leaking” stories to the media.
The former Man United and England captain, who now jointly owns top US team Inter Miami, was reportedly equally upset when he flew for 22 hours from London to Sydney at Harry’s request to add “star power” to the Invictus Games in 2018 – only to be “snubbed” by the Duke when he got there.
At the same time, Meghan’s friendship with Victoria is said to have soured following media reports that she had been given free make-up advice by the former Spice Girl.
Now, it appears, Meghan has stepped in to defuse their feud between the couples and rekindle their friendship. On the first day of her and Harry’s four day “faux royal” tour of Colombia last month, the Duchess wore a $780 brown silk shirt designed by Victoria Beckham for her VB2000 collection.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede believes this was a strong sign that Meghan wants to rebuild bridges, adding: “For Meghan to wear VB when all the world was watching her on tour is a smart move. Given that Meghan rarely re-wears items, this could be a telling gesture.”
Meanwhile, although Sussex staff have declined to reveal any details or timings for Harry’s milestone 40th birthday festivities, it is expected that Harry and Meghan will celebrate privately with their children – Prince Archie, five, and three-year-old Princess Lilibet – before party guests arrive later in the day.
Several who live 90 miles south in Los Angeles, have reportedly booked rooms at the ritzy Miramar hotel in nearby Santa Barbara, where sea-view beach suites cost up to $5,500 per night.
Party planner Meghan will be hoping the celebration for her husband will be a big success following another setback last week when it was learned that her trademark application for her planned new lifestyle brand – American Riviera Orchard – has been refused by the US Patent Office.
Authorities there say businesses cannot trademark actual geographical locations, with ‘American Riviera’ the widely-accepted term used to describe the very stretch of California coastline their mansion overlooks.
