Meghan Markle had asked Victoria Beckham for free clothes and handbags during her engagement to Prince Harry, claims a new book. However, Buckingham Palace purportedly intervened, citing rules against such requests, according to celebrity biographer Tom Bower’s book, ‘The House of Beckham’.

Markle also allegedly failed to return a pair of Aquazzura shoes after a fashion photoshoot.

The book details a complex relationship between the ‘Suits’ actor and the Beckhams, who were once close friends. Meghan Markle had stayed at the Beckhams’ Beverly Hills residence and a member of Victoria Beckham’s team even offered her make-up and beauty tips during her time in London, according to the book.

Tensions reportedly arose when the Duchess of Sussex suspected Victoria Beckham of leaking stories to the media, which strained their relationship. This incident reportedly led Prince Harry to “complain” to David Beckham. Victoria denied any involvement and blamed a beautician, instead. 

A source told Daily Mail that David Beckham was “bloody furious” over accusations that his family leaked information about the Sussexes to the press, making a reconciliation seem “unlikely”.

According to Mr Bower, the tension further grew due to Markle feeling sensitive about media scrutiny and jealous of the Beckhams’ wealth and luxurious lifestyle. The situation escalated when she allegedly snubbed the Beckhams at her wedding in 2018, where they were invited but not to a special dinner with celebrities like George Clooney, leaving Victoria Beckham feeling “insulted”.  

The book states that Victoria Beckham appeared “stony-faced” in photos from the erstwhile royals’ wedding at St George’s Chapel back in 2018. The relationship reportedly got “frosty” over time, with the Beckhams allegedly not inviting the Sussexes to their son Brooklyn Beckham’s lavish Palm Beach wedding to Nicola Peltz in 2022.

However, despite tensions, Markle continued to publicly support the former Spice Girl by wearing pieces from her fashion collection on several occasions, including Christmas in 2018 and the Commonwealth Day Service in 2019.

Tom Bower’s book ‘House of Beckham: Money, Sex and Power’ is out now.  

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle’s biographies on the Royal Family’s official website have been updated. The couple’s biographies have been removed and merged into a single joint profile, as per a report in People Magazine.

Before this, both had individual biographies on the royal family website, which acts as a digital hub for news and updates on the monarchy. Their statement on the page says, “As announced in January 2020, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have stepped back as working members of The Royal Family. The couple married in St George’s Chapel, Windsor on 19 May 2018 and have two children: Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.”

Under the headings “About the Duke of Sussex” and “About the Duchess of Sussex,” the page breaks down Harry and Meghan’s biographies, recapping notable moments like Prince Harry’s ten years in the British Army and the founding of the Invictus Games alongside Meghan Markle’s seven seasons on ‘Suits’ and lifestyle blog The Tig. Earlier, both had longer biographies including Prince Harry’s page mentioning his role of “supporting the Monarch.”

The Royal family’s website also mentions a link to their new website which was launched in February by the couple. In a new rebranding move, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s website has the latest news about the couple as well as links to their Archewell Foundation organization and Archewell Productions hub.

Their website which was earlier called Archwell will now be referred to as, sussex.com. The homepage features a photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Germany at the 2023 Invictus Games closing ceremony in September. According to the statements issued by The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan, The Duke & Duchess of Sussex, the couple aims to showcase their passions and endeavours, asserting their identities beyond traditional royal responsibilities.

“The reality behind the new site is very simple – it’s a hub for the work the Sussexes do and it reflects the fact the family have, since the King’s coronation, the same surname for the first time. That’s a big deal for any family. It represents their unification and it’s a proud moment,” an insider said.

However, the couple was slammed for using their royal titles and the Royal Coat of Arms on their new Sussex.com website. “Prince Harry and Meghan’s Biographies are immaculate! Come on”. said a reader. “This signifies their Hollywood failure and inability to succeed in their numerous business ventures. So they are falling back on the only thing they know to do and what can make them any money, trading off their royal titles. This is pathetic and demonstrates, yet again, why the titles must be removed,” an X user wrote. 

Los Angeles:

Meghan Markle, the wife of Britain’s Prince Harry, is launching a new lifestyle brand seemingly named after the couple’s oceanside California home.

An Instagram page and website for American Riviera Orchard went live without advance warning Thursday, both featuring a gold-colored crest for the new venture.

The logo featured the word Montecito, the celebrity enclave where the couple have lived since 2020, which is close to Santa Barbara — itself sometimes known as the American Riviera

The social media account’s biography simply reads: “by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex.”

A representative for the duchess confirmed her participation in the new venture to AFP, without providing further details.

American Riviera Orchard appears to be a kitchen and lifestyle themed brand.

Thursday’s launch was accompanied by a grainy, retro-style promotional video in which Meghan Markle is seen arranging flowers and baking in a kitchen.

A mailing list offered users the chance to sign up to become “the first to know about products, availability, and updates from American Riviera Orchard.”

Harry and Meghan, who is American, quit royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California.

Their official @sussexroyal Instagram account has not posted since then.

Meghan Markle’s personal social media accounts and former lifestyle blog were both closed before the couple married.

In recent years, the couple have pursued a variety of media ventures.

They criticized Britain’s royal family in a string of high-profile outpourings including a Netflix documentary series and Harry’s blockbuster autobiography “Spare.”

The couple had a Spotify exclusive podcast deal, which came to an end last year after just one show.

Netflix also dropped an animated series created by Meghan Markle.

But an executive for the streaming giant in January said multiple projects from the couple, including a movie, remained “in very early development.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Former member of the UK royal family Meghan Markle on Friday spoke out against the “seemingly endless toxicity” prevalent on social media platforms. The keynote speaker for a high-profile panel commemorating International Women’s Day, Ms Markle shared her personal experiences of facing “bullying and abuse” during her pregnancies with Archie and Lilibet.

Ms Markle expressed her concern about the dehumanising nature of online interactions. She remarked that people have “forgotten our humanity” in certain sections of the media and the digital sphere.

“The bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing on social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili,” she said. “You just think about that and really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful – it is not catty, it is cruel.”

The 42-year-old former actress revealed that she now consciously distances herself from such negative comments for the sake of her wellbeing. 

Prince Harry and Ms Markle have faced heightened scrutiny since stepping back from the Royal Family, with public appearances becoming less frequent as they focus on their philanthropic endeavors through the Archewell Foundation in California.

“If you’re reading something terrible about a woman, why are you sharing it with your friends?” she asked. “If it was your friend, or your mum or your daughter, you wouldn’t do it. I think that is the piece that is so lost right now (with) what is happening in the digital space and in certain sections of the media – we have forgotten about our humanity and that has got to change.”

During the panel discussion, Ms Markle also revisited a formative experience from her childhood, where a letter she wrote at the age of 11 led to a change in a sexist advertisement for dishwashing liquid by Procter & Gamble. Encouraging advocacy and speaking up, she reminded the audience that “your voice is not small, it just needs to be heard.”