‘Lonely’ Meghan Markle’s major charm offensive to get Kate Middleton & Victoria Beckham back on side with luxury gifts
MEGHAN Markle feels ‘lonely’ and wants to concentrate on ‘strengthening friendships’, particularly with Kate Middleton and Victoria Beckham, claims a source.
With Christmas fast approaching, it’s been reported that the festive season will see the 43-year-old Duchess launch a major charm offensive.
Following an annus horribilis for the Sussexes, as their projects have waned and their popularity continues to plummet, an insider has revealed that Meghan will be sending luxury gifts to her pals, to ‘remind people of her softer side’.
As reported by , the source said: “Meghan has been meticulously curating gift packages filled with a selection of all her favourite things - and of course plenty of her jam - to send to the who's who of Hollywood.
“While there's no doubt it's about promoting her American Riviera Orchard brand, it's also about spreading goodwill and trying to remind people of her softer side.
“With Christmas just around the corner, Meghan sees it as the perfect time to try to rebuild connections and is determined not to start 2025 surrounded by negativity.
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“She's been feeling increasingly lonely recently and wants to concentrate on strengthening friendships.”
Whilst Meghan and Harry seemed to have a solid group of A-list pals, with Oprah Winfrey, the Clooneys and the Beckhams attending their 2018 wedding, over the years, there have been rumours of fall-outs and fizzled friendships.
They reportedly fell out with the Beckhams, with Meghan allegedly accusing them of leaking stories, something David and Victoria have neither confirmed nor denied.
And just last week, Brooklyn Beckham, 25, seemed to add fuel to the fire when he ignored a question on the Sussexes in an interview.
When asked about his friendship with the royals, Brooklyn instead turned the conversation to Prince William, 42, and said: “'He's the sweetest guy ever. He's really down to earth, a really good guy.”
But this hasn’t stopped Meghan trying to cultivate a celebrity circle.
After softly launching her lifestyle brand in March, Meghan sent 50 jars of strawberry jam to some of Hollywood's biggest power players.
However, despite only a handful of close friends choosing to promote her new brand amid her and Harry's toxic feud with the Royal Family, the insider revealed that Meghan hasn't been deterred - in fact she's more determined than ever to build bridges.
She's very eager to set the tone for next year as one of peace and forgiveness
Insider
The source added: "She's sending them out to all her friends and acquaintances and is willing to spend a fortune and a whole lot of time because she sees it as an investment in her relationships.”
The news of Meghan's festive splash-out comes after months of setbacks for the couple, who stepped down as senior working royals in 2020.
How confident Meghan Markle hit the spotlight aged 12
MEGHAN Markle proved herself as a feminist long before hitting the spotlight - pushing for change at just 12.
Footage of the US actress as a school student has surfaced, with the young woman having written letters demanding for a cleaning ad to change their sexist ad's phrasing from "women" to "people".
Meghan had taken issue with Ivory's ad for dishwasher soap, that claimed "women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans".
Taking up a pen and paper, the determined student wrote to the company, asking for them to make a change - and they did.
Nickelodeon footage of Meghan explaining just why she had decided to speak out has since resurfaced, with the fresh-faced student already well-spoken and thoughtful.
Speaking to the camera, she explained: "I said - wait a minute, how could someone say that?"
She said that she realised a number of commercials would hurt people's feelings, and was determined to make a change.
In the 1993 interview, she said: "I don’t think it is right for kids to grow up thinking that mom does everything.
"If you see something that you don’t like or offended by on television or any other place, write letters and send them to the right people and you can really make a difference, not just for yourself but for lots of other people."
Polls in the UK and the US showed that their era as Hollywood's new golden couple had abruptly come to an end - a jolt back to reality that saw Harry, 40, begin to engage in numerous solo trips across New York, London and South Africa.
Meanwhile, in August, it was reported that their £78 million Netflix deal is under threat and may not be renewed next year, with insiders calling it the worst deal in Hollywood history'.
But now, the insider claimed that Meghan is willing to take the plunge when it comes to salvaging her reputation this Christmas - even extending an olive branch to Kate Middleton, 42, and Victoria Beckham, 50.
Why did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step back as senior working royals?
PRINCE Harry has always wanted out of the Royal Family and the repercussions will be felt for years, an expert has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex has lived in California with his wife Meghan Markle since 2020 after they dramatically quit their jobs as working royals and moved across the pond.
Katie Nicholl, who is Vanity Fair's royal correspondent, told The Sun's Royal Exclusive show that Megxit did not come as a surprise to her.
Speaking to The Sun's Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, the commentator explained: "Anyone who knows Harry is aware he's always wanted a way out of the Royal Family.
"He's said multiple times on the record that he wished he'd never been born a prince.
"I think he really is living the life he wants to now. It's very, very sad that it's played out the way it has.”
In a statement made on the Sussexes' account as they stepped back in 2020, the pair wrote: "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
"We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
"It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.
"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.
"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
The source continued: “She's reaching out to people who aren't necessarily so fond of her, like Kate, Queen Camilla, the Clooneys and the Beckhams.
“She's very eager to set the tone for next year as one of peace and forgiveness.
“Times are different now. She realises that she and Harry can't go on with this cold war and that she needs to swallow her pride.”
She admits that her public image could use some work, but she doesn't see it as an impossible job
Insider
And while it was recently revealed that Meghan has demanded that Harry spend Christmas in California, the source claimed that she wants 2025 to be a fresh start.
The insider revealed: “Meghan is stepping into 2025 with a sense of optimism and intention. She sees it as the perfect time to turn the page and make a fresh start.
“Yes, at times certain snubs have felt very personal, but she's worked hard to move past that. She admits that her public image could use some work, but she doesn't see it as an impossible job.
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“She just hopes that her "forgiveness" will be reciprocated and that she gets the outcome that she wants from all of this. Only time will tell.”
The Sun has contacted Meghan's representatives for comment.