Meghan Markle’s popularity has hit a slump in both the UK and US, with a recent YouGov poll showing that just 4% of Brits expressed “very positive feelings” towards her. Meanwhile, her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard is failing to make an impression Stateside, with many of her famous friends hesitant to show public support.

An insider now tells Closer that Meghan is unable to accept that her fall in popularity has come about naturally and is laying blame at the door of her and husband Prince Harry’s former friends David and Victoria Beckham following the couple’s mammoth Netflix documentary beating their own in the ratings war.

Beckham, which was added to Netflix in October, was watched for 208.5million hours in 2023. Meanwhile, Harry & Meghan, which was released in December 2022, was watched for 72.9million hours last year. However, the Sussexes’ series was an instant hit upon arrival to the streaming platform – racking up 81.6million hours watched in just four days, with viewership falling naturally in the subsequent year.

The source tells Closer, “Meghan’s all over the place, she’s been really affected by these bad Netflix ratings and looking to pin the blame on anybody she can think of to validate this theory she has that they’ve been sabotaged.

“The fact that they’re invading the TV ratings and making Meghan and Harry’s efforts look like a laughing stock is such a kick in the teeth. Especially with the way they’re kissing up to the Royals, it’s all pretty sickening as far as Meghan’s concerned, and really stings because not long ago Meghan was trying everything to get closer to Posh again, but that got rebuffed.”

Closer recently reported how Meghan had been “shocked” by how Victoria had given her “the cold shoulder” in recent months, with her team even receiving no response from designer Victoria’s when enquiring about a dress.

“Meghan and Harry desperately need to raise their popularity in Hollywood right now, it’s just plummeting by the day, that’s what she should be focusing on but instead she’s obsessing over who’s to blame and right now the Beckhams are top of the list.”

David and Victoria have been friends with the Royal family for many years, with Victoria being introduced to the then-Prince Charles as part of the Spice Girls in 1997. David grew close to Princes William and Harry in the 2010s, saying that they had bonded over their shared love or sport. The couple attended the weddings of both William and Kate Middleton in 2011 and Harry and Meghan in 2018.

But a feud seemed to develop between the couples shortly after Meghan and Harry left the royal family, when Meghan allegedly accused Victoria of leaking stories to the press – a claim which is said to have left David “absolutely furious.”

Rumours of their falling out only became more rife when Harry and Meghan were left off the guestlist of David and Victoria’s son Brooklyn Beckham’s wedding to Nicola Peltz in May 2022. The Beckhams’ other famous friends including Victoria’s former Spice Girls bandmates Mel B and Melanie C, Eva Longoria, and Serena and Venus Williams were all in attendance at the star-studded ceremony.

And Meghan is now reportedly just as furious that the Beckhams are cosying up to the Royals even more, with David being named as an ambassador for The King’s Foundation and being hotly tipped to finally receive a knighthood. King Charles even had a meeting with David during the week Harry visited the UK last month, when the monarch said he was unable to make time to see his son due to “a packed schedule.”

“Having this news about the ratings come out straight after it was announced David’s becoming an ambassador for The King’s Foundation has only gotten Meghan’s back up more,” the source continues. “There’s absolutely no denying whose side David and Victoria are on in all this, they aren’t even trying to hide it. It’s just so sad for Meghan because she really wanted to make up with them.

“Don’t forget she’s been a huge fan of Posh since the Spice Girls days. The first time she was in the same room as Victoria she was so starstruck she practically shouted with excitement, they were, of course, front and centre at their wedding six years ago. So to now have both Victoria and David so clearly aligned against her and Harry has got to be pretty soul crushing. And beyond just David officially teaming up with the royals, the pair of them are now flexing their muscles in the entertainment world.

“Getting beaten on their own territory in America by the Beckhams, who are British, only adds insult to injury. Although it wasn’t done intentionally to get one over on Meghan and Harry, they are at the top of the pile now, and it feels to Meghan they’re being pretty smug about it. Not only that, but Meghan and Harry’s enemies and critics back in the UK are having a field day with it all. Meghan and Harry have always maintained there are powerful courtiers within the royal inner circle intent on sabotaging them.

“It’s easy to see why Meghan would be convinced those same people are pulling strings against them again. But this line of thinking isn’t going to do her or Harry any good in the long run. The feeling among Meghan’s friends is that she ought to be putting her energy into developing relationships on her home turf, not worrying about what’s happening back in the UK.

“It’s not as though she can do a heck of a lot to change anyone’s view at this stage. Playing the victim isn’t healthy, the best option is to just get on with it and deliver on all the promises she’s made.”

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