Meet David Foster, Prince Harry’s new ‘father figure’: the Grammy-winning musician was once stepfather to Bella and Gigi Hadid, and is married to American Idol star Katharine McPhee

Sep 2 , 2024

David Foster is a good friend of Britain’s Prince Harry. Photo: @davidfosterfoundation/Instagram

Foster and his wife struck up a friendship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after the royals left the UK; now, Foster has a close relationship with the prince that McPhee calls ‘beautiful’

Foster has been married 5 times and has 6 children – his 4th wife was Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Hadid; he also works to champion organ donation and the Israeli Defense Force

Britain’s Duke of Sussex and his former actress wife chose to leave royal life and move across the pond in 2020, and it’s clear now that they’ve alienated a few friends somewhere in between making multimillion dollar Netflix deals, releasing tell-all interviews and books and optimistically launching a lifestyle brand. Just last week, various media outlets reported that some of Prince Harry’s former friends believe he’s turned into “an angry boy” and that “it was sad to see” how his circumstances have changed since leaving London.

But not everyone has abandoned the couple. After saying goodbye to royal life, the pair struck up a friendship with Grammy-winning musician David Foster and his American Idol alum wife, Katharine McPhee. The musical pair helped Prince Harry and Meghan Markle find their Canadian rental home, a US$14 million property on Vancouver Island. Now, they’re neighbours in Montecito, California.

Foster, a decorated composer, is a year younger than Prince Harry’s supposedly estranged father, King Charles III, and has reportedly turned into a father figure for the prince. Foster’s wife, McPhee, has spoken about the relationship, saying “My husband has a really, really beautiful relationship with Harry. They’re so cute,” and describing their bond as that of a “father and son”, per The New York Post.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, speak onstage during Global Citizen Live on September 25, 2021, in New York City. Photo: Getty Images

But what else do we know about David Foster, the man who’s taken the displaced royals under his wing?

David Foster has four ex-wives and six kids

David Foster, ex-wife Yolanda Hadid and her daughter Bella Hadid arrive at the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education’s 15th grand slam for Children benefit concert at the Wynn Las Vegas October 9, 2010. Photo: Getty Images

Foster fathered his first daughter, Allison, at aged 20; she was adopted by another family but reconnected with the “Freedom” singer as an adult and is now involved with the David Foster Foundation.

Foster’s first wife was fellow Canadian musician, B.J. Cook, with whom he shares second daughter Amy.

After divorcing Cook in 1981, he quickly married Rebecca Dyer, with whom he had three daughters – Sara, Erin and Jordan.

Foster then married Linda Thompson – his third marriage was his longest, lasting from 1991 to 2005.