Brooklyn Beckham has certainly been taking notes from the Duke of Sussex's playbook. In a striking parallel, the eldest Beckham son appears to be following Prince Harry's path of public family conflict.
Missing the Big Moment
Sir David Beckham received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, surrounded by his wife Lady Victoria, sons Romeo and Cruz with their girlfriends, and daughter Harper. Even Tom Cruise made an appearance. But Brooklyn was notably absent.
This is not the first time Brooklyn has skipped a major family event. He missed his father's 50th birthday, the launch of Victoria's Netflix documentary series, and two of her fashion shows. In January, he publicly blasted his parents on Instagram, claiming his "performative" family has controlled his life and cares only about their celebrity brand.
Harper's Unannounced Visit
Fresh tensions have emerged after 14-year-old Harper was photographed visiting Brooklyn's Beverly Hills home. She arrived in an SUV, still wearing the bubblegum pink dress from her father's Walk of Fame ceremony. According to reports, Harper turned up "unannounced" with a letter and left shortly afterward without seeing her brother.
The aspiring chef accused his parents of "staging" the photographs. A representative for Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham stated, "That photographers were in place as the letter was hand-delivered says it all – this was choreographed for the cameras." However, a family source rejected the allegation, calling it "clearly nonsense."
Public Grievances: A Familiar Pattern
Whether true or not, Brooklyn's actions invite scrutiny. His beef is with Victoria and David, not his little sister. Assuming Harper's visit was for cameras, rather than a genuine desire for contact, seems harsh—especially since Brooklyn has blocked his family on social media.
But his biggest mistake is running to the press. This is exactly what Prince Harry did when he felt wronged by the Royal Family. Harry aired grievances to Oprah Winfrey, followed by a Netflix documentary series, and culminated in his memoir Spare.
The Price of Privilege
Brooklyn, like Harry, seems to believe that despite immense wealth and luxury, he must speak "his truth" whenever slighted by family. This is not to say the Beckhams or royals are perfect. But family conflicts are universal. Everyone experiences ups, downs, fallouts, and rows—that is life.
To some degree, sympathy for Brooklyn is warranted. He was thrust into the spotlight from birth. As the eldest, expectations to follow in David and Victoria's footsteps are immense. His father is one of the most famous footballers globally, and his mother has a successful fashion brand and was in one of the biggest girl groups of all time. That pressure is almost impossible to live up to.
A Risky Path
While estranged from his family, Brooklyn should focus on fulfilling his own goals and creating a life outside the brand. Mirroring Harry's movements, which have isolated the Duke of Sussex from British royals, may lead to similar regret. Using the media in the same way he claims his parents do could backfire.
One can only hope Brooklyn will not live to regret this approach.
