Beyoncé is known for keeping a tight circle, and it appears she plans to keep it that way for the foreseeable future.
According to a new source, the “Cowboy Carter” singer has allegedly been trying to distance herself from the royal Meghan Markle following the Duchess’s alleged attempts to grow closer.
The insider further claimed that Markle’s alleged behavior has come across to Beyoncé and her inner circle as “desperate,” adding that the mother of three has noticed and reportedly pulled back.
Beyoncé Is Reportedly Distancing Herself From Royal Meghan Markle After Her Alleged Attempts To Gain Access To The Carter Empire
While Markle is a celebrity in her own right, the Duchess of Sussex’s last several years in the spotlight have been marked by difficulty and extreme scrutiny.
There were several celebrities, however, who rallied around Markle during her most challenging times, including Oprah, Cameron Diaz, Orlando Bloom, Serena Williams, and even Beyoncé.
Beyoncé has been spotted interacting with Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, at public events. Beyoncé and Jay-Z even praised Markle while accepting their Brit Award with an entertaining video showing them standing in front of a makeshift Mona Lisa-style painting of Markle.
In the Netflix documentary, “Harry & Meghan,” the Duchess shared even more about her connection with Beyoncé, revealing that the “Crazy In Love” singer had texted her, saying she was “just checking in.”
“I still can’t believe she knows who I am,” Markle said before revealing Beyoncé allegedly said she wants Markle to “feel safe and protected” before paying her respects to the actress-turned-royal.
Are Things Going Downhill For Beyoncé And Markle?
However, a source close to Beyoncé reportedly told OK! that the singer is not in the same place with Markle as she once was.
“Over the last few years there has been a noticeable pattern where Meghan has shown up at events tied to Beyoncé’s world – whether that is functions celebrating Tina Knowles or gatherings where mutual friends are involved. To many observers it has looked like a conscious and a bit of a desperate effort to position herself closer to that circle,” the insider shared.
They went on to say that Beyoncé’s social circle has noticed Markle’s attempts to get closer to her and that they’ve all “interpreted it as Meghan trying to build a stronger association with the Carter family and the cultural influence that comes with them.”
Beyoncé Could Be Silently Pulling Back From Markle After Reportedly Feeling ‘Pressure’
As mentioned above, Beyoncé usually takes her time developing new relationships. In fact, she and her husband, Jay-Z, rapped and sang about their interpersonal relationships in the 2018 song “FRIENDS.”
“My friends, real friends, better than your friends / No foes, real friends, we ain’t even got to pretend, yeah / Get bands, get bands, spend it all on my friends,” the song goes. “I ain’t makin’ no room, yeah, I ain’t makin’ no new friends / I don’t make no moves, yeah, without tellin’ my crew, yeah.”
Consequently, Markle’s alleged attempts to foster a closer relationship with Beyoncé have left a sour taste in the singer’s mouth, said the insider.
“If she senses that someone is trying too hard to insert themselves into that space or accelerate a friendship before it has developed naturally, her instinct is usually to pull back rather than lean in. Beyoncé values relationships that evolve quietly over time, so any sign of pressure or strategic networking can make her more cautious,” they explained.
Who Are Queen Bey’s Closest Friends?
So, if it’s not Markle, who does Beyoncé hang out with? Well, of course, her decades-long relationship with fellow Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland remains at the top of the list, but according to E! News, Queen Bey also has a rolodex of high-profile friends.
Beyoncé opened up about her relationship with actress Gwyneth Paltrow in 2013, calling her “incredible” and a “great friend.”
Former President Barack Obama described Beyoncé and Jay-Z as “good friends” of his and his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama. “They’re good people. Beyoncé could not be sweeter to Michelle and the girls. So they’re good friends. We talk about the same things I talk about with all my friends,” Barack shared.
Michelle also praised Beyoncé as a “special person” during her appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” She continued, “She’s a sweetheart. She’s smart, she’s creative, she’s a great mother, she loves her family. She’s just a low-key lady—we have a lot in common that way.”
Markle Moving Forward With Lifestyle Brand Without Netflix’s Support
In other Markle news, it was reported in early March 2026 that Netflix had parted ways with the media personality and her lifestyle brand, As Ever, which sold jams, spreads, bookmarks, and wines.
A Netflix spokesperson told PEOPLE that the decision to sever ties was always part of the bigger plan, adding that the company is looking forward “to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world.”
