Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'frosty' bond with David and Victoria Beckham

Despite their previously close relationship with the Beckhams, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were noticeably absent from Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday celebrations last week.

This has fuelled speculation that the bond between the two couples may have become strained, following rumours of snubs and a contentious phone call.

David and Victoria Beckham have been long-standing friends of Prince Harry and his older brother, Prince William. Victoria even met the princes several times during her Spice Girls days, including at the premiere of SpiceWorld The Movie.

However, it seems that the relationship between the Sussexes and the Beckhams may have soured. Despite the Beckhams' efforts to make Meghan feel welcome in the UK when she started dating Harry - with Victoria reportedly sharing her favourite London hairdressers and stylists with Meghan - the two couples now appear to be on less friendly terms.

Biographer Tom Bower, who has penned a book on Meghan Markle and is currently working on one about the Beckhams, made claims in The Sun that the ex-footballer and fashion mogul had offered the now Duchess of Sussex sanctuary at their LA home during a period of intense media scrutiny.

However, the first signs of strain appeared shortly after these reports surfaced, with stories about Victoria assisting Meghan causing upset within the Sussex camp.

As per the Mail On Sunday, Harry reportedly confronted David over the phone about his suspicions, leaving the former Manchester United player "furious", reports the Mirror.

The Sussexes were allegedly concerned that close friends might be leaking stories about them and were eager to identify potential sources. Specifically, Meghan was said to have suspected Victoria, leading Harry to call David to voice these accusations.

A source close to the Beckhams told the publication: "David and Victoria attended Meghan and Harry's wedding and were very supportive when Meghan arrived in the UK."

Following the awkward incident, David and Victoria Beckham seemed to move past it, attending Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding at St George's Chapel in Windsor in May 2018. Victoria was the epitome of elegance in a navy dress and hat, while David cut a dashing figure in his morning suit.

Later that year, the royal couple embarked on a tour of Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, which coincided with the Sydney-hosted 2018 Invictus Games. Harry, alongside Meghan who was expecting at the time, graced the opening ceremony of the Games.

The Invictus Games became a point of contention, as Harry reportedly invited David to be an ambassador for the event. However, tensions arose when Harry allegedly avoided David during the Sydney Games in 2018.

According to claims, Harry's reluctance to engage with his friend was due to Meghan's concerns that Victoria might be leaking stories about her to the media.

Tom Bower, writing for The Sun, detailed the confusion: "Having flown half-way around the world, he was perplexed why officials after he arrived at the sporting venue were playing a dance to keep him happy, but away from Harry," and further explained, "The reason for the distance was Meghan, the newly married Duchess of Sussex. She wanted no competition in the media from David, and especially not from his wife, Victoria."

Despite the mounting tensions, Meghan wore a few pieces from Victoria's fashion collection. On 2018 Christmas Day, while expecting Prince Archie, she was seen in a navy coat designed by Victoria Beckham during the royals' annual walk to church in Sandringham.

Later, in March of 2019, she showcased a Victoria Beckham dress at the Commonwealth Day Service held at Westminster Abbey.

Meghan, formerly known for her role on the hit series 'Suits', has previously commented on Victoria's designs. She confessed that she lacks the right 'silhouette' to carry off the Spice Girl-turned-designer's clothing line.

Speaking about her personal experience with fashion, the 5 ft 6 in tall Duchess said: "What I'm starting to learn is, even though things look amazing on the hanger, it doesn't mean they're going to look amazing on me. For example I love Victoria Beckham dresses, but I don't have the long torso to support that silhouette."

Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.