David Foster may have put the red-carpet snub rumors to bed, but apparently, the gossip had other plans. After skipping a greeting with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the David Foster and Friends Foundation event, Foster told People that he had already met his friends 10 minutes earlier. Sources, however, point toward politics as the less sparkling reason for the distance.

Politics has a peculiar talent for turning old friendships and family ties into awkward red-carpet encounters, and Meghan Markle and David Foster may be its latest casualties.

According to insiders who spoke with Rob Shuter for his Naughty But Nice Substack, David Foster’s political associations have reportedly added a little frost to his friendship with Meghan Markle. Foster has occupied a particularly warm place in Prince Harry’s life, even helping the Sussexes find their footing after royal duties. Now, that closeness may be cooling.

“There is definitely an icy feeling there now, and politics is part of it,” a source told Rob Shuter. That assessment stands out because David Foster and Meghan Markle have reportedly been close for years. The awkwardness became harder to ignore after Meghan Markle was invited to a May fundraiser at Foster and Katharine McPhee’s Brentwood home, yet ultimately stayed away.

The event raised money for Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, with David Foster at the piano and Katharine McPhee performing a playful rewrite of Tina Turner’s “The Best.” ” The gathering offered another glimpse into Foster’s political circle without necessarily explaining everything. After years of warmth between the families, however, even the frost report by Nice but Naughty is bound to attract attention.

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Yet, despite the reported political differences and growing tensions, Foster and Markle appear to remain friends, which is hardly surprising given the history they share.

Meghan Markle and David Foster’s friendship has been shaped by a connection that predates the royal spotlight. Markle knew Katharine McPhee, Foster’s wife, from their school days in Los Angeles, giving the two families an established link. That connection grew stronger after Prince Harry and Foster developed a notably close relationship following the Sussexes’ move to North America.

Foster also played a supportive role during a significant chapter in the Sussexes’ lives, helping arrange a private Vancouver Island retreat for Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Archie in late 2019. Their friendship has since remained visible through public appearances and shared moments. Given that history, their reported tensions hardly appear enough to erase a longstanding bond.

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Do you think there really is an icy tension between Meghan Markle and David Foster? Let us know in the comments!