Since Harry and Meghan moved to Montecito, California, after stepping down as senior royals, they have often been pictured going out with high-profile friends – but their circle of friends has changed somewhat in recent years.
In fact, many of the people who were once close to the Sussexes appear not to be taking sides over their public feud with the British royal family and have maintained their own ties to the monarchy despite the Duke and Duchess’s attacks on their family members.
While many, including Edward Enninful and Idris Elba, have maintained their commitment to King Charles’ charity, The Prince’s Trust, others attended the king’s coronation celebrations in May to show their support for the British royal family.
It appears that such celebrity friends are treading carefully, walking a tightrope between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, and doing their best not to take sides in the royal rift that shows no signs of healing any time soon.
Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the Sussexes’ friendly tug-of-war with the rest of the royal family…
KATY PERRY
As the dispute between the Sussexes and other members of the royal family shows no signs of resolution, FEMAIL examines how their friends are doing their best not to take sides. Pictured: Meghan Markle at a Katy Perry concert in Santa Barbara last week
The relationship between pop princess Katy Perry, 39, and the Duchess of Sussex has had its ups and downs over the years – but it seems the two are firm friends these days.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were spotted at a Katy Perry concert in Santa Barbara just last weekend, with the Duchess wearing a stunning black sequin dress to impress.
However, things haven’t always been smooth sailing between the famous women – as previously reported, Meghan held a “grudge” against Katy over a critical comment the singer made about her wedding dress.
Katy Perry also showed her support for King Charles and performed at the coronation concert in May
During a US promotional tour for American Idol in May 2018, Perry joked to Entertainment Tonight that she “had another fitting” for the dress at St. George’s Chapel.
A source told the Daily Star in August 2022: “Meghan is very aware of a comment made by Katy Perry in 2018 about her wedding dress and is notorious for holding a grudge.
“Although the comment was not intended to be hurtful, Meghan felt besieged at the time and was overwhelmed by arguments with staff, the Duchess of Cambridge and Thomas Markle.”
However, this did not stop Harry from becoming friends with actor Orlando Bloom, who is Perry’s fiancé, after the family moved to Montecito.
Speaking about his mental health struggles on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Harry admitted that he texts his new boyfriend regularly.
As Harry and Meghan danced around at Katy Perry’s concert last weekend, it seemed like they were definitely fans of the singer – but they aren’t the only royals who have enjoyed her musical talents this year.
The singer also traveled to the UK in May this year, where she headlined King Charles’ coronation concert alongside artists such as Lionel Richie and Take That.
She performed in front of 20,000 spectators and invited guests to Windsor Castle, including the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales – but remarkably, Prince Harry was not in attendance.
The day before, Katy visited Westminster Abbey, where she was one of the exclusive 2,200 guests at the royal coronation.
Following the coronation events, Katy shared a behind-the-scenes detail of her concert dress on Instagram that suggests she is a fan of the monarch.
Inside the corset of Vivienne Westwood’s dazzling gold dress, the words “Katy Perry, Charles III, 2023” were sewn into the fabric.
GEORGE AND AMAL CLOONEY
The Clooneys were among the glamorous guests at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018
George and Amal Clooney were among the two most famous non-royals to attend Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018 and were given prime seats at St. George’s Chapel.
After the wedding, they are said to have become closer and Amal was even invited to Meghan’s baby shower in New York in 2019.
According to the Sussexes’ biography Finding Freedom, the Clooneys hosted Harry and Meghan at their home in Sonning, Berkshire, at least twice.
The book also claimed that the Clooneys invited the Sussexes to Lake Como just weeks after their wedding and flew them there on their private jet.
The couple were spotted at a Prince’s Trust event in London in May, suggesting they are supporting the royal in some way
Omid Scobie, co-author of “Finding Freedom,” also told Good Morning America that Harry and Mr. Clooney bonded over a love of motorcycles and basketball.
When asked by the Chron in 2019 how he knew the couple, Mr Clooney said: “I’ve only just met them.” We don’t live too far from each other, have dinners and stuff and are friends with them, from the Same reasons you are friends with anyone.
“They’re just really nice, funny, friendly people, they’re a very loving couple and they’re going to be great parents.”
But the Clooneys have not taken sides in the transatlantic dispute between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, supporting King Charles III at a Prince’s Trust event in London in May. pronounced.
DAVID AND VICTORIA BECKHAM
David and Victoria Beckham were among the exclusive guest list at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018
The Beckhams were also among the Sussexes’ exclusive wedding guests when they tied the knot at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2018.
Meghan was said to have struck up a friendship with fashion designer Victoria in 2017 when she first moved to the UK and lived in Frogmore Cottage.
According to the Mail on Sunday, the couples joined forces because Izzy May, David Beckham’s communications director, was friends with Markus Anderson, the chief membership officer of private social club Soho House, who helped arrange Meghan’s secret dates with Harry.
The Beckhams also hosted Meghan at their six-bedroom home in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, before her wedding to Harry.
Since relations between the Sussexes and the Beckhams have apparently cooled somewhat, football legend David is said to be talking to the King about future charity collaborations
David Beckham has a long-standing relationship with the royal family and has spent time with William and Harry in the past
When Meghan and Prince Harry got engaged, she and Victoria were said to have “been close” and texted “regularly,” according to royal biographer Tom Bower.
Meghan also gave the designer her stamp of approval by choosing a cashmere knit for one of her engagement portraits with Harry.
As the royal couple moved to the US in 2022, David Beckham praised his “amazing” friend Harry – but revealed he had not spoken to the duke about his decision to step down as a senior royal and move to the US.
He said of Harry: “We love him and he’s a great person – and that’s the most important thing – but I’m proud to see him grow up as an individual and be the person every father wants to be.”
But this year it was claimed the royal couple suspected the Beckhams were leaking stories about Meghan’s help from Victoria to the press – a claim the former Spice Girl denied and which reportedly left David “absolutely furious”.
A source close to the Beckhams told the Mail on Sunday: “David and Victoria went to Meghan and Harry’s wedding and were very supportive of Meghan when she arrived in the UK.”
But the allegations, made in a tense phone call according to The Mail on Sunday, fractured the Beckham friendship.
The source added: “It’s very unlikely to make amends now.”
In contrast, it was reported last week that the Man Utd legend had accepted a dinner invitation from King Charles after his relationship with the Sussexes appeared to have cooled.
The former England star has dinner with Charles to discuss the possibility of him becoming an ambassador for the Prince’s Foundation, a charity set up by the King to give young people skills.
David previously held a similar role representing Invictus Games, the multi-sport competition for sick and injured servicemen and women founded by Prince Harry in 2014.
IDRIS ELBA
Idris Elba was not only a guest at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018 – he was also a DJ at their reception
The acclaimed British actor is best known for his roles in Luther and The Wire – but Idris Elba is also a talented DJ and performed at Harry and Meghan’s wedding, where he was also a guest.
The actor, who hails from Canning Town, east London, was spotted among the exclusive wedding guests at St George’s Chapel in Windsor with his glamorous wife Sabrina.
However, in the Sussexes’ tell-all Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, the couple shared a behind-the-scenes look at Idris behind the DJ decks.
Last year, Idris revealed in an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra that he listened to rapper Dr. Dre played what he thought “resonated” with the audience.
The actor explained that it was “Megan’s decision” to perform the song after he sat down on stage for the royal occasion.
He also revealed that the Duchess mastered the most impressive moves on the dance floor last night, telling ET Canada: “I think Meghan was the one who was really like letting go.”
“You know, she was real… She was just having a lot of fun.” It was her wedding. So she had the best time.’
Although Idris is a friend of the Sussexes, he has continued to maintain ties with King Charles despite the royal couple’s falling out with Harry’s father and other family members.
Idris spoke to the king at a reception for African business leaders in London last month and has long praised Charles’ charity The Prince’s Trust
Just last month he was photographed happily chatting with the king at a reception for African business leaders at Chapel Barracks in London.
He is also a goodwill ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, Charles’ charity.
When he started acting, the trust supported him with £1,500, which enabled him to train at the National Youth Music Theatre.
In a video for The Prince’s Trust, he revealed that the scholarship “allowed me to launch my career.”
The Luther star has worked with the charity for years and in 2010 recorded a short video showing him meeting with youth worker Dante Lauder-Hawkins for the charity.
In the video, he shares that he grew up on a council estate in Hackney, adding that he is “so proud” to be from the area.
EDWARD ENNINFUL
Outgoing British Vogue editor Edward Enninful collaborated with Meghan Markle on an issue of the magazine in 2019
Edward Enninful, the outgoing editor of British Vogue, was also present at the meeting of African business leaders at Chapel Barracks last month.
The editor was pictured shaking the king’s hand as the two laughed and told a joke.
Edward also has close ties to the royal charity and was appointed global ambassador for the Prince’s Trust Group in 2021.
This year he praised the king as “charming”, “funny” and “kind” as he wrote the monarch’s entry in the list of the 100 most influential people of 2023.
He added that the British monarchy was “not perfect” but that King Charles had the ability to “move with the times.”
When he wrote the entry for the king, Edward said: “He might have let his privilege protect him from the reality of our plight at a time when it was not a cause célèbre.” But he always approached us with an open mind and a listening ear.”
Mr Enninful also attended the reception for African business leaders in London last month and praised the king as “friendly”.
Mr. Enniful’s ties to the monarchy don’t end with King Charles, as he also developed a friendship with the Duchess of Sussex when he collaborated with her on an issue of British Vogue in 2019.
The Forces for Change issue featured inspiring women on the cover, including actresses Gemma Chan and Jane Fonda and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
When it debuted in September, it was the fastest-selling issue in the magazine’s 104-year history, selling out in less than 10 days.
The following year, Mr Enninful spoke to Sky News about the criticism Meghan received when she joined the royal family, arguing that he did not believe it was solely due to racism.
He described the duchess as a “brave woman” and said: “Parts of it were probably racism, but it was more institutional.”
He added that while the criticism was “harsh,” he “wouldn’t just blame it on racism,” saying, “She walked into an institution and everyone expected her to know the rules.” And I think sometimes It takes a minute to understand the rules.”
However, he continued to say that he thought the treatment towards her was “very unfair”.