Celebrities Who Are Close Friends With The Royal Family
The royal family is at once an insular and far-reaching institution. Anyone who has watched "The Crown" will know there's nothing more difficult than gaining acceptance as an outsider. Just look at Princess Diana, Sarah Ferguson, or Meghan Markle. Watching Meghan deal with her in-laws and the tabloid scrutiny that comes with the title is enough to turn anyone off from joining the family. Yet, plenty of people are still eager to rub elbows with the Windsors.
They are one of the world's most powerful, wealthy, and influential families. If you can make it in their inner circle, you can make it anywhere. The easiest way to get close to the royals? Be a celebrity. Still, there were rumors that the royal family didn't like Prince Harry marrying an actor. Prince Philip reportedly told Harry, "one steps out with actresses, one doesn't marry them," per the Sunday Times. Rude but true, based on how many actors the family hangs out with.
Below we break down the most important celebs in the royal mix, including some well-known besties and total surprises you probably didn't see coming.
Serena Williams supported Meghan Markle even before she became a royal
Serena Williams is super close with Meghan Markle and has been for years. They first met at the Super Bowl in 2010, and have been nearly inseparable since. "We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in, and chatting not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old fashioned girly stuff," Meghan wrote in her blog back in 2014. "So began our friendship. She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was traveling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down to earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto."
Meghan and Williams have stood by each other through a lot. When Meghan and Harry left royal life, Williams had Meghan's back all the way. "Meghan is a great person, and I think the epitome of strength, the epitome of confidence, the epitome of just selflessness," Williams said during an appearance on "Shine Series." Meghan returned the favor a couple of years later when William's announced her retirement. During her appearance on Meghan's podcast, "Archetypes," Williams reminisced about who she had sought advice from, Harry and Meghan, before making the announcement. "The three of us really know that sometimes the right decision isn't the easiest decision," Meghan confirmed. If Williams ever decides to return to the court, we know Meghan and Harry will be cheering her on all the way.
Elton John has defended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
You already know that Elton John was super close with Princess Diana – he performed "Candle in the Wind" at her funeral, after all — but what about Prince Harry and Prince William? Well, that's a little more complicated. "I don't really know the boys at all," John told Reuters in 2011, per Billboard. He explained that he'd only met Prince William and Prince Harry when they were children through Diana and again when they were adults at a memorial concert. "They're tremendous boys, but I don't know them [so] it would be presumptuous of me to even talk about them," John said. "They are great boys; their mum would be very proud of them."
In recent years it seems John has grown closer to Prince Harry. He performed at his wedding to Meghan Markle and has reportedly developed a friendship with the royal couple since they moved to California, per Town and Country. John, and his husband, David Furnish, signed on as producers for a new animated Netflix series from Meghan and Harry called "Pearl." What's more, John has also defended the couple against the British press and encouraged them to take legal action against the tabloids. It's unclear if his close bond with Harry and Meghan has put a strain on his relationship with Will and Kate, but then again, they were never that close anyway.
David Beckham is closer to Prince William than to Harry
Though soccer star David Beckham doesn't seem to have much in common with Prince Harry and Prince William, he's become a good friend over the years. When asked by Esquire back in 2012 if he'd consider them friends, Beckham said that he definitely would, per Express. "It's a very normal relationship. With Harry as well. They're very easy to get along with," he said. "William loves Aston Villa, unfortunately, which obviously I give him a bit of stick about," he added.
William and Beckham have built a steady friendship, Beckham's relationship with Harry has been through its ups and downs. It might seem like he and Harry would be much closer (they were both party boys back in the day, after all), but since Harry and Meghan Markle got together, there has reportedly been tension between the royal and the footballer. Tom Bowers' 2022 book "Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors," alleged that Meghan suspected Victoria Beckham had been leaking stories about her to the press. Harry reportedly called David after Meghan confided her suspicions.
The conversation became heated, but they were able to work it out. David even spoke out publicly in support of Harry and Meghan's decision to leave his royal duties, per Express. "We love him. But I'm proud to see him growing up," he said.
Patrick J. Adams and Meghan Markle worked together
Patrick J. Adams got to know Meghan Markle when they worked together on "Suits." They became good friends, and he was one of the first to come to her defense against the British tabloids. "Meghan Markle and I spent the better part of a decade working together on 'Suits,'" he wrote in a since-deleted tweet, per Vanity Fair. "From day one she was an enthusiastic, kind, cooperative, giving, joyful and supportive member of our television family. She remained that person and colleague as fame, prestige and power accrued."
Adams was not here for any of the tabloid stories about Meghan being difficult to work with, either. As far as he was concerned, she was nothing but a great colleague. "She has always been a powerful woman with a deep sense of morality and a fierce work ethic and has never been afraid to speak up, be heard and defend herself and those she holds dear. Like the rest of the world, I have watched her navigate the last few years in astonishment.'" While Adams has acknowledged that he and Meghan aren't that close anymore – after all their lives went in very different directions — there is no doubt she's happy for the glowing employee referral.
Ellie Goulding has partied with Princess Eugenie
This list is dominated by friends of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, so here's a win for Kate and Will. The King-to-be is apparently quite friendly with Ellie Goulding. The pop star even performed at his 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton. "I did their first dance and like, talk about scary," Goulding told Vanity Fair. "I was so nervous, my hands were shaking ... That's one of my memories, looking down at them and [my hand was shaking]." Goulding got to know William and Kate because she's tight with Princess Eugenie and has been spotted partying more than a few times on the London club scene, per Evening Standard. Eugenie also took about a page out of her cousin's book and had Goulding perform at her 2018 wedding, too (via People).
The Royals aren't the only ones getting something (great wedding songs) out of this friendship though. It's been rumored that Princess Eugenie was the one to introduce Goulding to her now husband, Caspar Jopling, per Marie Claire.
Through Eugenie, Goulding has also gotten to know Princess Beatrice and even vacationed with her, Misha Nonoo, and Karlie Kloss in 2018. Kate Middleton and Prince William were notably not in attendance on that trip, as Kate was giving birth to Prince Louis that very week, per Hello!.
Meghan and Harry crashed at Tyler Perry's pad
No one has Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's back harder than Tyler Perry. On the surface, it's a surprising relationship, but when they really needed him, Perry was there. When Meghan and Harry left the royal family in 2020, they moved first to Canada before eventually making their way to California. All the while, there were reportedly very tense behind-the-scenes conversations going on between Harry and his father and brother, about where he would fit in with the family from now on.
Charles was reportedly against financially supporting Harry any longer, as he was no longer a working royal, and cut him off, per Vanity Fair. Cutting Harry off meant that he had no more security, and that's where Perry stepped in. Apparently, out of the goodness of his heart, the "Madea" star offered to let the Sussex's crash at his California Mansion (which came with full security.)
He explained the decision in the press as nothing more than a good deed for a couple that had fallen on hard times. "The love they have is really, really moving, and I just wanted to do anything I could to support them," he said during an appearance on "The Today Show." "What I know about the two of them that I wish the world knew is how much they love [each other]" May everyone find a friend as loyal as Perry and a love as pure as Meghan and Harry's.
David Foster's wife is a childhood friend to Meghan Markle
Before there was Tyler Perry, there was David Foster — at least as far as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are concerned. When they made the drastic decision to leave royal life behind, they did so mostly without the support of Harry's family and thus had to rely on friends. That's where Foster comes in. It turns out Meghan and Foster's wife, Katharine McPhee, are old childhood friends, per the Daily Mail. When he heard about the situation, Foster offered to connect the royal couple with some real estate buddies in Vancouver — to try and arrange housing as quickly as possible. "I felt honored that I was able to help Meghan there because I'm a Canadian and we're a commonwealth country," Foster told the outlet. "I was really happy to be able to help them to find a respite just to take a little time off."
Since then, Foster and Harry have hit it off. Speaking to Access Hollywood, McPhee described Foster and Harry's relationship as "beautiful," adding, "They're so cute. They're like father and son." Given Harry's complicated relationship with his own father, we imagine he's grateful to have Foster in his corner.
Princess Beatrice was one of the first to hear about Karlie Kloss' engagement
Up next is Karlie Kloss, and we admit we were surprised to learn she was tight with the royals. Not only has the supermodel never attended a royal wedding, but when we think of Kloss' tabloid-worthy friendships, we think Taylor Swift, not princesses. Nonetheless, Kloss is super close with Princess Beatrice and even took an exotic vacation to Jordan with her and several other celebrities, including Misha Nonoo and Ellie Goulding in 2018, per Insider.
While Kloss wasn't at Beatrice's wedding (to be fair, hardly anyone was), Beatrice did make the trek all the way from London to Wyoming for Kloss' nuptials, per Brides. According to reports, Beatrice and Kloss were practically inseparable all weekend. Photos from the bash allegedly show Beatrice seated next to Kloss at a fancy dinner.
Beatrice was also one of the first people Kloss told about her engagement to Joshua Kushner. The model FaceTimed her long-distance BFF to break the news and shared a screenshot of her reaction to her Instagram stories, per People. Kloss even tagged Bea's secret Instagram account in the post — sharing it with her millions of followers — oops! Hopefully, Beatrice was too excited by the big news to care.
Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry are next-door neighbors to Megan and Harry
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have rubbed elbows with plenty of Hollywood elites since moving to California – including their next-door neighbors Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry. During an appearance on "Armchair Expert," Harry revealed that Bloom always gives him a heads up if paparazzi are sniffing around their properties. Harry reportedly also doesn't mind that Bloom voices the cartoon version of himself in "The Prince," per The Mirror. Knowing Harry, he might even find it funny. The bad news is, that while Harry and Bloom have a good thing going — the same can't necessarily be said for Meghan and Perry.
The tension between Meghan and Perry reportedly dates back to Meghan's wedding. Perry wasn't invited but did publicly state that if she was Meghan, she would have scheduled an additional fitting for her dress, as it looked a bit loose on the big day. While it's far from the meanest thing that has been said about the Duchess, sources claim Meghan is holding a grudge, per Express. "I would not expect to see Meghan and Katy carpooling to PTA meetings anytime in the future!" an insider said. Of course, it's kind of Bloom to let the Sussex know when the press is outside their gate, but it sounds like Meghan and Perry are happy keeping the relationship neighborly — and nothing more.
Priyanka Chopra subtly compared Meghan to Princess Diana
If Meghan Markle has one famous bestie (other than Serena Williams), it's Priyanka Chopra. Chopra and Meghan became close back in 2016 at an industry event and then started hanging out more regularly. Before Meghan's 2018 wedding, Chopra penned an essay about her friend for Time, in which she subtly compared Meghan to Princess Diana (the people's princess), referring to her as a "princess for the people." Chopra also sung Meghan's praises in the press many other times. Speaking to Us Weekly in 2018, Chopra said: "she is a relatable young woman of the world today."
Chopra attended Meghan's wedding, but Meghan was notably absent from hers, which fueled rumors of a falling out. According to insiders, though, Meghan would have been there if she could, but thanks her pregnancy made travel to India risky. "The couple was invited to all of the celebrations in India, but given how much travel would be involved for Meghan, who's now five months pregnant, they decided against it," the source confirmed to Harpers Bazaar.
Chopra didn't take it personally and has proven time and time again that she has Meghan's back in the press and against the royals. Case-in-point, Chorpa attended Wimbledon in 2021, just after Meghan's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, and onlookers noted that she chose to completely ignore Kate Middleton and Prince William, despite sitting just a few rows behind them, per The Mirror. Safe to say, we know where she stands.
Cara Delevingne and Princess Eugenie are close through their mothers
England and Hollywood have something in common. They both have a small-town feel — as in, everyone seems to know everyone one way or another. That's definitely true when it comes to Cara Delevingne, who has been pictured with just about everyone in Hollywood, but also tight with the royal family. Unlike most people on this list, Delevingne has never been spotted hanging out with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, but she is super close with Princess Eugenie. The ladies allegedly developed a friendship in childhood through their mothers, Pandora and Sarah, per Vanity Fair. The families go way back, though. Delevingne's late grandmother was also tight with Prince Phillip before he married Queen Elizabeth, per Page Six.
Delevingne made a splash at Eugenie's 2018 wedding when she showed up in a full tuxedo instead and a top hat. Some might think a runway model in a fitted tuxedo and tophat would upstage the bride, but Eugenie reportedly gave Delevingne her blessing. "Eugenie has been a friend of mine since I was a kid, and I've always wanted to wear tails," Delevingne explained in an interview with Grazia (via Page Six). "I texted her, as I wasn't sure about it, and she was like: 'Of course, I expected nothing else from you!'" The rest of the Delevingne family was also in attendance, including Cara's sister, Poppy, who sported a very interesting feathered hat, per Daily Mail.
Beyonce refers to Meghan Markle as her 'princess'
If America had a queen, it would probably be Beyonce. So Meghan Markle and Queen B should become good friends. Even before they'd ever met, Beyonce was a big supporter of Meghan and her engagement to Prince Harry, per People. The pair were finally introduced in 2019 when Harry and Meghan attended the London premiere of "The Lion King" in which Beyonce starred. At the event, Beyonce greeted Meghan with a hug and referred to her as "My princess."
While that meeting at "The Lion King" is the only time the ladies were spotted hanging out, it seems Meghan and Beyonce have been able to maintain a friendly relationship. Beyonce even wished Meghan a happy birthday on her website in 2021. The pop star also came to Sussex's defense earlier in the year when they gave that eye-opening interview to Oprah Winfrey about leaving the royal family. "Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership," Beyonce wrote, per The Hollywood Reporter. "We are all strengthened and inspired by you."
Jennifer Lopez went on double dates with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
There's a lot of conflicting information about how close Jennifer Lopez is to the royal family. Before she and Alex Rodriguez split, they were spotted on a double date with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back in 2020 just after the Sussexes had left the UK, per Page Six. "Harry and Meghan got on really well with Jennifer and Alex and spent some time chatting with them over dinner," a source told the outlet. "J-Lo was overheard inviting the couple and their baby Archie to her and Alex's house in Miami to spend time with them and their kids." If the rumors about Meghan and Lopez's fallout are true, that playdate probably never happened.
Devoted royal watchers will know that Lopez hasn't been seen with the Sussexes since that double date. Rumors began to swirl that Meghan tried to build a friendship with J.Lo after supposedly hitting it off in Miami, but Lopez did her absolute best to stay away from Meghan and Harry. "J.Lo is one of the most image-obsessed people on the planet, and the brutal truth is that it's not a good look to be hanging out with Meghan right now," a source told Globe in 2022. "She'll play nice if they run into each other, but as far as being bosom buddies – it's not gonna happen." Tough break for Meghan. It turns out Miami can be just as cutthroat as Buckingham Palace.
George and Amal Clooney have vacationed with Harry and Meghan
When it comes to couples friends, there's probably nobody closer to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle than George and Amal Clooney. Sure, they attended the 2018 royal wedding (and looked amazing) but sources say their friendship has only grown since then. Harry and Meghan even joined Amal and George for a long weekend at their famed Italian Villa in 2019. "Amal and Meghan spent much of their days lounging by the pool together and, of course, playing with the twins," reporter Omid Scobie told ABC. "George and Harry have a shared passion for motorcycles and checked out George's collection, and they also played basketball together."
While Amal has Meghan's back privately, George has chosen to speak up and publicly defend her against the British tabloids. "I do want to say, [the press is] just chasing Meghan Markle everywhere, she's been pursued and vilified," he told Who Magazine in 2019. "She's a woman who is seven months pregnant, and she has been pursued and vilified and chased in the same way that Diana was, and its history repeating itself." Given their close relationship, the publication asked George if he'd be the godfather of baby Archie, but he was quick to shut that down. "I have enough s**t to deal with — literally," the father of twins joked.