Sept. 7, 2026

Meghan Markle vs. Victoria Beckham: UK Return Reignites Feud

Show Notes
Transcript

Meghan Markle’s return to Britain could reportedly put her back into the same social orbit as former friend Victoria Beckham, with claims their relationship remains deeply strained years after the Sussex-Beckham falling-out. Meanwhile, another report claims Harry and Meghan abandoned plans for a star-studded California farewell party after celebrity friends proved difficult to pin down. We also look at whether the Sussexes will avoid a potentially explosive Sandringham Christmas by returning to California with Doria Ragland, what could happen to their forty-million-dollar Montecito mansion, Meghan’s reported demands for a nine-bedroom UK home and studio, and warnings that her return could eventually produce another royal tell-all.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/palace-intrigue-harry-meghan-the-crown-royal-family-news-and-gossip--4522904/support.

Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:03.250 --> 00:00:11.490
Caloroga Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I

2
00:00:11.529 --> 00:00:14.939
am your host, Mark Francis. Rob Shooter's naughty but nice,

3
00:00:15.179 --> 00:00:18.920
sighting and unnamed London insider claims the relationship between Meghan

4
00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:22.699
Markle and Victoria Beckham remains deeply strained and that Meghan

5
00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:25.070
could find herself at a disadvantage now that she is

6
00:00:25.109 --> 00:00:28.570
trying to re-establish a life in Britain. The Sussexes and

7
00:00:28.629 --> 00:00:31.530
Beckhams were once close. David and Victoria attended Harry and

8
00:00:31.570 --> 00:00:34.820
Meghan's wedding in 2018. and David has developed a friendship

9
00:00:34.840 --> 00:00:37.780
with Harry through their shared charitable interests and royal events.

10
00:00:38.899 --> 00:00:43.060
The relationship reportedly deteriorated after Meghan became concerned that private

11
00:00:43.090 --> 00:00:45.549
information was breaching the press and the Beckhams were suspected

12
00:00:45.590 --> 00:00:49.810
of being responsible. According to previous accounts, Harry confronted David

13
00:00:49.850 --> 00:00:53.310
about the alleged leaking, the Beckhams denied being responsible, and

14
00:00:53.350 --> 00:00:56.670
the accusation reportedly caused a serious rupture between the couples.

15
00:00:57.950 --> 00:01:02.200
Shooter's source claims that episode remains important to Victoria. That

16
00:01:02.219 --> 00:01:05.680
was the moment Victoria was done. She believed Meghan questioned

17
00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:09.980
their loyalty and embarrassed David. Victoria can forgive plenty. Disloyalty

18
00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:12.640
isn't one of them. The UK may not be big

19
00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:16.379
enough for Meghan and Victoria. If London society is choosing tables,

20
00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:20.579
Victoria wins. The Beckhams have fashion, football, celebrities, billionaires, media

21
00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:24.540
and royalty. Meghan cannot compete with decades of those relationships.

22
00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:28.040
Victoria doesn't need to attack Meghan. She has something much

23
00:01:28.099 --> 00:01:31.879
more powerful. Relationships. People know where they stand with the Beckhams.

24
00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:34.459
and nobody wants to find themselves on the wrong side

25
00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:39.280
of Victoria. Shooter also claims Harry and Meghan reportedly considered

26
00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.260
marking the end of their California chapter with a celebrity

27
00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:45.879
farewell party, only to abandon the idea after their famous

28
00:01:45.939 --> 00:01:49.829
friends proved difficult to pin down. A source said, They

29
00:01:49.849 --> 00:01:53.310
started quietly feeling people out, and the response was basically crickets.

30
00:01:53.590 --> 00:01:56.409
They imagined this emotional send-off surrounded by the people who

31
00:01:56.469 --> 00:02:00.969
welcomed them to America. Instead, everyone was busy. It was embarrassing.

32
00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:04.760
These weren't supposed to be Hollywood acquaintances. These were supposed

33
00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:07.840
to be real friends. Tyler gave them extraordinary support when

34
00:02:07.859 --> 00:02:10.930
they arrived. Oprah gave them a global platform. Harry and

35
00:02:10.949 --> 00:02:14.810
Meghan genuinely believed they had built an American family. When

36
00:02:14.830 --> 00:02:16.710
there was a royal wedding, a Netflix deal or a

37
00:02:16.750 --> 00:02:19.650
big interview, everybody wanted a seat at the table. For

38
00:02:19.669 --> 00:02:22.509
the goodbye party, suddenly nobody could find a free night.

39
00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:27.039
Is Doria Ragland the excuse Meghan needs to get out

40
00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:29.919
of town? That is the picture outlined by the Daily

41
00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:34.159
Mail's Alison Boshoff Citing sources close to the Sussexes, speaking

42
00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:37.240
on Palace Confidential, she suggested Christmas could be spent in

43
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:41.900
California rather than alongside the royal family. Boshoff said, I'm

44
00:02:41.939 --> 00:02:43.560
told that this is the plan to go back to

45
00:02:43.659 --> 00:02:47.300
Montecito in the school holidays. First one coming up is Christmas.

46
00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:50.300
I think it's really wise and sensible. I think from

47
00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:52.800
what I've been told, there is not a desire to

48
00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:55.780
be provocative. So although you can argue this kind of

49
00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:58.879
incredibly hasty bombshell manner that all is proactive, I think

50
00:02:58.900 --> 00:03:01.060
there's going to be an effort not to actually stir

51
00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:03.879
up conflict. And actually, this is the best possible news

52
00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:06.439
for Buckingham Palace, isn't it? If Harry and his family

53
00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:09.860
go back to California, or a California Christmas then, phew,

54
00:03:10.259 --> 00:03:12.259
nobody has to worry about any of that. At least

55
00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:16.150
that's the first Christmas got over with. Royal commentator Victoria

56
00:03:16.210 --> 00:03:18.750
Arbiter adds, If I were Harry and Meghan, I'm not

57
00:03:18.789 --> 00:03:20.330
sure I'd want to be sitting across the table from

58
00:03:20.370 --> 00:03:23.810
someone like Princess Anne just yet. She's very pragmatic. I

59
00:03:23.830 --> 00:03:25.229
think she'd have been very upset about a lot of

60
00:03:25.270 --> 00:03:27.770
things that were said. While we're all going to be watching,

61
00:03:28.090 --> 00:03:30.409
fascinated and wondering, are they going to be on that

62
00:03:30.490 --> 00:03:33.960
famous walk to church this Christmas? I'd be surprised. They've

63
00:03:33.979 --> 00:03:36.080
got a good excuse to go home and see Grandma Doria,

64
00:03:36.539 --> 00:03:37.930
and they won't have seen her for a little while.

65
00:03:38.210 --> 00:03:40.490
That solves this Christmas and gives them a whole year

66
00:03:40.550 --> 00:03:44.949
to work towards next Christmas. In the Daily Mail, Caroline

67
00:03:44.990 --> 00:03:49.370
Graham writes, As for the Sussex's sprawling 18,000 square foot home,

68
00:03:49.389 --> 00:03:51.569
which they bought from a Russian businessman for $ 14. 65 million

69
00:03:51.689 --> 00:03:56.090
in June 2020... Local estate agents fully expect them to

70
00:03:56.150 --> 00:04:00.409
cash in. Montecito estate agent Daniel Encel said the property

71
00:04:00.430 --> 00:04:04.060
could earn more than $ 100, 000 a month in rent, but

72
00:04:04.069 --> 00:04:07.240
would be worth about $ 40 million should they sell. It's

73
00:04:07.250 --> 00:04:09.020
one of the best pieces of land on the Riven

74
00:04:09.139 --> 00:04:12.680
Rock estate, said Mr. Encel. It has mostly usable flat land,

75
00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:15.639
while many nearby properties are on the hillsides with less

76
00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:18.879
usable acreage. The house next to them is currently up

77
00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:21.740
for sale for $ 30 million, with a smaller acreage and

78
00:04:21.779 --> 00:04:24.250
much less usable land, so Harry and Megan should be

79
00:04:24.310 --> 00:04:26.870
able to clear $ 40 million for theirs. Their name and

80
00:04:26.910 --> 00:04:29.689
being royalty has publicity value, which would bring in a

81
00:04:29.730 --> 00:04:33.129
lot more interest. As for Megan's famous rescued chickens, they

82
00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:36.040
remain at the estate in Archie's Chick Inn, being cared

83
00:04:36.060 --> 00:04:38.959
for by staff which includes at least one full-time housekeeper,

84
00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:42.300
a small army of gardeners and a pool man. One

85
00:04:42.339 --> 00:04:44.980
person familiar with the home, who asked not to be named, said,

86
00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:47.579
people think they upped sticks and left, but when you

87
00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.439
have an estate that size, it requires upkeep. That's an

88
00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:54.040
expensive undertaking. They still have a mortgage and property taxes.

89
00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:56.439
The word on the street is that they are going

90
00:04:56.459 --> 00:04:59.379
to sell off-market. The news of them moving back to

91
00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:03.250
England has been everywhere, so local realtors are already getting

92
00:05:03.290 --> 00:05:05.930
calls from interested buyers. They will be quietly sold with

93
00:05:05.970 --> 00:05:09.470
no fuss or publicity. Megan won't want people snooping around

94
00:05:09.509 --> 00:05:12.410
in her closets. As for a new home, the mail's

95
00:05:12.569 --> 00:05:15.170
sources claim Megan would like a house with nine bedrooms,

96
00:05:15.689 --> 00:05:19.100
matching the number of the couple's Montecito mansion, as well

97
00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:22.149
as a space for her business operations. One source claims

98
00:05:22.170 --> 00:05:24.910
Harry has his own priorities, particularly when it comes to

99
00:05:24.949 --> 00:05:28.230
privacy and outdoor space. He reportedly wants a lot, and

100
00:05:28.250 --> 00:05:30.610
I mean a lot of land, and no footpaths going

101
00:05:30.649 --> 00:05:34.069
across it to protect their privacy. Meghan is also reportedly

102
00:05:34.129 --> 00:05:36.589
interested in having a film studio at the property, potentially

103
00:05:36.629 --> 00:05:40.000
allowing her to produce content connected with As Ever and

104
00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:44.180
other projects without regularly leaving home. One source said she

105
00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:46.180
won't be able to resist building a film studio at

106
00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:49.079
their new home, and predicted she will eventually return to

107
00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:52.490
home-making content, adding, That is the heart of who she is.

108
00:05:53.129 --> 00:05:55.949
Talk TV's Samara Gill believes the Sussexes could use an

109
00:05:56.009 --> 00:05:58.829
invasion of privacy to put pressure on King Charles and

110
00:05:58.870 --> 00:06:03.230
the authorities responsible for royal protection. Gill said, I think

111
00:06:03.250 --> 00:06:05.449
they almost want a bit of press intrusion. They want

112
00:06:05.470 --> 00:06:08.410
some junior reporter or some paparazzi who's not in the

113
00:06:08.470 --> 00:06:11.129
know to go up to their place because it is

114
00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:13.160
the people who know, know. And by the way, it's

115
00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:15.750
a massive place. if you've actually had the chance to

116
00:06:15.810 --> 00:06:18.149
see it as a journalist behind the scenes, I've had

117
00:06:18.170 --> 00:06:20.410
a little peek in it, is a sort of Montecito

118
00:06:20.449 --> 00:06:23.610
and the Cotswolds type of vibe without giving too much away.

119
00:06:24.189 --> 00:06:25.990
I think they're waiting for their privacy to be invaded

120
00:06:26.050 --> 00:06:27.629
so they can go to the king and complain and

121
00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:30.199
start the victim narrative again and then get some money

122
00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:32.220
out of it or try and use it against Ravek,

123
00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:34.420
which is the body that has been deciding that they

124
00:06:34.459 --> 00:06:37.579
don't get taxpayer-funded security. Try and get Ravek to pony

125
00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:39.759
up taxpayer money for it. I think this is all

126
00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:43.439
part of the victim narrative that's already being spun. People

127
00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:45.819
magazine has already been briefed by Meghan's friends this week,

128
00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:49.079
saying they're really worried about Meghan and her safety. Well,

129
00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:51.560
wouldn't that be hilarious if Meghan wasn't the one constantly

130
00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:54.709
invading her own privacy, going to Paris Fashion Week, going

131
00:06:54.750 --> 00:06:57.990
away to different various gala events in Hollywood, traipsing across

132
00:06:58.009 --> 00:07:00.009
the earth? I mean, it's a bunch of tosh that

133
00:07:00.050 --> 00:07:02.889
they're concerned. There's a big difference with a volume of

134
00:07:03.009 --> 00:07:06.170
articles written against you and actual security threats. And they

135
00:07:06.189 --> 00:07:07.629
don't seem to be able to find where the truth

136
00:07:07.889 --> 00:07:11.800
is between that. Which is that, in my opinion. I

137
00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:14.879
don't think they're that much under threat. They're just scrutinized.

138
00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:20.110
They're just an infamous couple. TV commentator Mark Dolan is

139
00:07:20.129 --> 00:07:22.529
warning the royal family that Meghan's return to Britain could

140
00:07:22.569 --> 00:07:26.800
eventually provide material for another Sussex tell-all. Dolan said... We

141
00:07:26.810 --> 00:07:29.240
know that there was so much in the original manuscript

142
00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:31.939
of Spare that was edited out to protect the royal family.

143
00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:34.699
All of that times 100 would be in Megan's book.

144
00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:37.199
You've allowed the fox back in the hen house and

145
00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:45.620
feathers will fly. More palace in just a moment. For

146
00:07:45.660 --> 00:07:48.500
the Eye News, Simon Kellner writes, while no one should

147
00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:52.300
begrudge Harry a chance to re-establish cordial relations with his

148
00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:55.600
close family, the avalanche of courage that his return has

149
00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:58.660
triggered most of it unnecessarily negative in my view, is

150
00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:00.639
not helpful to a royal family trying to restore its

151
00:08:00.699 --> 00:08:04.000
image in the wake of the Andrew fallout. Fergie's return

152
00:08:04.019 --> 00:08:06.560
to the public eye is another matter. Her very presence

153
00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:09.199
invokes the specter of her supreme friendship with Jeffrey Epstein,

154
00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:13.699
of Andrew's royal defenestration, and indeed of her own entanglement

155
00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:17.379
in the inquiry into the late pedophile's activities. Relatives of

156
00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:20.319
Epstein's victims have publicly called on Ferguson to give testimony

157
00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:24.089
in the United States. She's not accused of any criminal wrongdoing,

158
00:08:24.110 --> 00:08:26.379
but that is not really the point. The perception is

159
00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:29.279
that she represents the worst aspects of our monarchy, a

160
00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:32.379
sense of entitlement, of believing to be above the law, and,

161
00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:34.840
not least, having a tin ear when it comes to PR.

162
00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:37.750
And it's only through living a blameless, anonymous life will

163
00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:41.169
she be able to piece together her shattered reputation. That's

164
00:08:41.190 --> 00:08:43.169
just one of the reasons why agreeing to an interview

165
00:08:43.350 --> 00:08:46.970
would be such a terrible idea. The unhelpful paradox for

166
00:08:46.990 --> 00:08:49.529
the modern royal family is that those who are furthest

167
00:08:49.549 --> 00:08:52.309
from its purpose are the ones who generate the most interest.

168
00:08:52.850 --> 00:08:55.210
and coverage. So the good work Charles and William have

169
00:08:55.230 --> 00:08:58.570
done in conveying a more contemporary, relevant image in their

170
00:08:58.649 --> 00:09:02.139
public work is undermined by a new plot twist in

171
00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:04.379
the soap opera. And there you have it. If you'd

172
00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:08.580
like to email us, our address is thepalaceintriguedgmail.com. If you're

173
00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:11.059
on Spotify, leave us a comment. If you're on Apple,

174
00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:14.360
hit that button up there that says listen uninterrupted and

175
00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:16.940
get the show commercial free for just five bucks a month.

176
00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:20.620
We appreciate the support. I'm Mark Francis. My thanks to

177
00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:23.289
John McDermott. This is Palace Intrigued. Good times.

Meghan Markle vs. Victoria Beckham: UK Return Reignites Feud

Listen On

Recent Episodes