It was over lunch with one of the most entertaining movers and shakers in the show business industry that they told such an amusing story about some of the world’s best-known male stars that I nearly choked – laughing – on my fish cake.
We discussed the upcoming Gavin And Stacey Christmas Special from last month and then swapped stories about creator and superstar James Corden.
There are of course many hilarious anecdotes about him, some funny, some quite unpleasant, but it’s not often you hear about him, a member of the royal family and a globally famous footballer. It has been told to a small circle of very famous people for 14 years, but it is just too good not to share.
And it can be revealed that this was the start of a special friendship between Corden and Prince Harry.
It was a rainy evening in 2011, just before Christmas, at the exclusive members-only venue the Arts Club in London’s Mayfair. Corden starred in his critically acclaimed West End show One Man, Two Guvnors and couldn’t join his A-list friends Prince Harry – four years before he met Meghan Markle – David Beckham and his best friend, producer Ben Winston for what I was described as a ‘pre-Christmas boys’ p*** up’.
Instead, he promised he would be at the party as soon as he got off stage. He arrived much later after his friends had been drinking for several hours.
As a result of the furore, a bromance developed between the ever-impressive networker James Corden and Prince Harry
In 2021, Harry appeared on The Late Late Show, where the pair rode around Los Angeles on a double-decker bus and sang The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air theme song.
David Beckham and James on a night out in London in 2010
While the greetings were typically boyish — hugs and fist pumps — a tipsy Harry made a joke about the actor’s appearance, leaving Corden “absolutely furious.” My source tells me, “James came straight from the theater and was clearly stone cold sober.
He walked inside and found a group of drunk men. You can only imagine what he must have been thinking. It’s quite annoying when you show up somewhere without having anything to drink, but James had been grafting on stage for hours.
‘There was rapture when he arrived. He was a beloved part of the group and there were hugs and giggles. The group was quite large. There were some of Harry’s friends, some of James’ friends, and some of David’s friends, and they were all intertwined.
‘That’s when it all started, James was furious. It soon turned out that Harry had told a joke and James didn’t think it was funny at all.
“To an outsider it would have seemed like things were going well.”
Corden, who is known for not always having the most relaxed sense of humor, was on a “different level” than his drunken friends.
So who else to come to the rescue than David Beckham, a good friend of both parties at the time. Ever the peacemaker, he spoke to both sides and assured Corden that no harm was intended by the cruel comment – which this newspaper has chosen not to share.
Julia Carey and James attend Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018
David Beckham on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2020
And the friends share a laugh in London in 2017
“It was up to David to smooth things over,” the source said. “He’s loved by everyone, I mean, who wouldn’t want to do what a legend like him asks of him?
‘He did an excellent job and managed to talk everyone around. Eventually James calmed down and the night continued. Some of them even left the Arts Club for another drink at the Savoy.”
At the time, the Arts Club, located just yards from Victoria Beckham’s clothing store on Dover Street, was one of the most popular venues in Britain.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Cattrall and Ronnie Wood are said to have been members and for two years it was the place where Sony Music celebrated its post-British party, where guests included One Direction, Simon Cowell and Justin Timberlake. It was also one of Harry’s regular haunts at a time when he was partying with friends after splitting from Chelsy Davy, but before meeting Cressida Bonas.
Until now the raucous A-list soiree has been kept secret, apart from a brief report in the then newspaper The Sun which missed the evening’s story.
It praised Harry for ‘talking to everyone who approached him’, with an insider adding: ‘Harry was the life and soul of the party. He kept his table busy with lots of banter and random tricks.
‘His best trick is playing drums with drink mixers on glasses. James took to the stage for his hit West End play One Man, Two Guvnors. But there was no way he could miss a night with these guys.”
Although Corden’s anger over the jibe was clearly visible to all present, the secret feud led to a very happy ending. As a result of the furor, a bromance developed between the ever-impressive networker Corden and Prince Harry. In fact, the two men became so close that Corden hosted Meghan and Harry’s 2018 wedding reception at Frogmore Cottage.
Two years later, the men became even closer when the Sussexes moved to California – where Corden hosted The Late Late Show – amid disagreements with brother William and father Charles. Meghan and Corden’s wife, Julia Carey, also formed a friendship.
In 2021, Harry appeared on The Late Late Show, where the pair rode around Los Angeles on a double-decker bus and sang The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air theme song.
Corden and the Prince stopped for their open-top bus tour at the house used in the show.
After Harry proved he was a true fan of the 1990s sitcom by rapping the theme song as he walked up the driveway, Corden tried to convince him to buy the property. Corden then FaceTimed Meghan on Harry’s phone in an attempt to convince her. She objected, saying, “I think we’ve done enough.”
Later that year, Corden shared how his children had playdates with Meghan and Harry’s son Archie and daughter Lilibet.
“You have to wonder if they ever talked about the Arts Club incident again,” my source mused. It is claimed that Corden and Harry are no longer that close, although neither party has commented.
As for Beckham and the Prince, there is irony in the feud.
On the night in question, he defended Harry, who he had known since he was a teenager. David was also – and still is – friends with Prince William and would certainly have felt like a father figure to the then 26-year-old Harry.
These days, however, the two men have little contact following a row that reportedly stemmed from the Sussexes’ accusation that he and his wife Victoria had leaked stories about them.
And as for Beckham and Corden, who were once regularly seen together, their friendship isn’t what it once was.
“A lot has changed in the last fourteen years, it was before Meghan and when Harry liked to party,” the source added.