As the Beckhams gathered to celebrate David’s 50th birthday this weekend, the former England captain posted a poignant photograph on his Instagram page.
The throwback image featured David beaming with joy alongside seven-year-old Brooklyn, the eldest of his four children, with a simple, heartfelt caption: ‘@brooklynbeckham I love you.’
Perhaps it was a father’s last-ditch attempt to reach out to his beloved son – an olive branch which, he must surely have hoped, might bring the family back together for his special occasion.
If it was it ended in heartache, for the famously-close Beckhams have been torn apart by a rift with Brooklyn no longer speaking to the family – and wife Nicola Peltz seemingly at the heart of the feud.
I can also exclusively reveal that Brooklyn, 26, and Nicola, 30, were not at David’s birthday dinner at Core restaurant in Notting Hill, west London, last night. The pair also failed to join David and Victoria and their other children Romeo, Cruz and Harper when the family flew to France for a day of celebrations on Friday.
And they were notably absent from a big family party at the Beckhams’ £10million Cotswolds estate on Wednesday night, when David and Victoria were joined by their parents and siblings.
That their eldest son, who owns hot sauce brand Cloud23, should be a no-show is perhaps all the more surprising because Brooklyn and Nicola have been in London since last week, having jetted in from their Los Angeles home.
They had been invited to all three parties and up to the last hours on each occasion, the family had hoped they would attend. But, says one source, ‘each time Brooklyn left his parents hanging’.
Tellingly, former model and photographer Brooklyn also failed to wish his father a happy birthday on social media – nor did he send congratulations to Victoria when she turned 51 a little over a fortnight ago. I’m told he also did not contact her for Mother’s Day in March – neither personally nor on social media – which one source called ‘so, so sad’.
Victoria Beckham gets off a private jet in Paris
David Beckham disembarks with his family
Brooklyn Beckham and wife, Nicola Peltz, arrived in London from Los Angeles last week
There have long been whispers of turbulent relations between aspiring actress Nicola and her in-laws and one source unequivocally told me last night: ‘This is all about Nicola.’
One long-standing friend of David and Victoria’s, who has known Brooklyn since he was a small boy, says: ‘It’s a terribly sad situation and it has been going on for a long time. They adore Brooklyn, their children are everything to them, but Brooklyn isn’t talking to them, he isn’t talking to the family and David and Victoria are heartbroken.
‘It is now the end of the week and despite Brooklyn flying to London with Nicola with every intention of celebrating his dad’s 50th birthday with him, he hasn’t taken part in any of it.
‘Weeks ago Brooklyn told them he would be there and they were expecting Nicola. Now David and Victoria have no idea what is going on. The French trip was to be the really special family time away but they didn’t go. Then, after days of leaving his parents on tenterhooks, he and Nicola didn’t go to Core either.’
But there is no love lost between the Beckhams and Nicola, daughter of billionaire US businessman Nelson Peltz, who married Brooklyn in a lavish ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2022.
Tensions began in the run-up to the wedding, when Nicola planned a Valentino gown for her big day rather than having her dress made by Victoria. Relations were strained for over a year until the women seemed to find a way to repair relations.
But eyebrows were raised again recently over Brooklyn and Nicola’s absences from several family occasions including David’s pre-birthday party in Miami in March, when he kicked off his celebrations with friends including footballer Lionel Messi and model Cindy Crawford.
Brooklyn’s three siblings were there, with Romeo, 22, and Cruz, 20, bringing their girlfriends to the star-studded bash at the Cipriani Downtown restaurant. Brooklyn and Nicola have now missed 12 family events in the last year, starting with David’s 49th birthday dinner last May at London’s five-star The Peninsula hotel.
One old friend of the former Manchester United star tells me: ‘David is the most kind, loyal and dedicated father who would do anything for Brooklyn – as would Victoria. For all of this to happen on such a memorable and special birthday is just devastating.’
His special day began on Friday morning when he and his brood flew from Luton airport to Bordeaux by rented private jet.
They had lunch at David’s choice vineyard, Petrus, which produces his favourite red wine from Merlot grapes in Pomerol, near the border of Saint-Émilion.
Romeo was joined by his partner, model Kim Turnbull, 24, while Cruz brought his girlfriend, songwriter Jackie Apostel, 29, of whom the Beckhams are very fond.
Next they hopped back on the plane for dinner in Paris, eating at another of David’s favoured haunts L’Ami Louis, where he once revealed he ate 32 snails in a sitting. The party then moved on to La Reserve, an intimate five-star hotel.
They flew back to Luton airport yesterday morning with David holding bags, one bearing the words El Pasador De Oro Gran Reserva, a Guatemalan rum, and another from Bellevoye Bleu, a French whisky which David has a particular taste for. ‘But the trip must have been tinged with sadness,’ said a friend. ‘This was the day he wanted to spend with all of his family.’
Back in London, the Beckhams prepared for David’s dinner at Core, with guests including actress Eva Longoria, who jetted in from the States, chef Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana, Tom Cruise and director Guy Ritchie and wife Jacqui Ainsley. The celebration last week at the family home was also a grand occasion. Guests wore tuxedos and ballgowns and went for a midnight swim in the pond – fully dressed.
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Cruz shared a glimpse of the night on social media. There were, of course, no photos of Brooklyn and Nicola.
Yet the missing couple were not totally absent – certainly not from social media. They shared photos of themselves kissing and looking besotted after arriving in London ahead of Wednesday’s party.
I’m told things haven’t been the same between Victoria and David and Brooklyn since he and Nicola got together in October 2019. Shortly after they began dating, Covid hit and Brooklyn moved to America to spend lockdown with his new girlfriend.
Then there was the growing froideur over their wedding. Nicola later gave an interview, insisting that ditching Victoria’s offer to create her bridal gown was not intended as a slight against her mother-in-law.
Later that month, Brooklyn was a no-show when the family celebrated the birthday of Victoria’s father Anthony Adams.
Brooklyn also failed to join the Beckhams on family holidays last summer to Muskoka in Canada and then sailing around the European coast on the family’s yacht.
Romeo celebrated his 22nd birthday without his elder brother in London in September last year and Brooklyn didn’t go to Romeo’s other party in Las Vegas, either.
A glance at Brooklyn’s social media reveals he has posted little about his family recently. The last one was a picture with David in December, and there was a snap of his mum on Mother’s Day last year.
In contrast, his brothers regularly post about their parents.
There have been suggestions the rift was due to Brooklyn and Romeo falling out over the latter’s girlfriend Kim.
She used to know Brooklyn as she dated his friend Rocco Ritchie, son of Guy Ritchie and his former wife Madonna. But this, it seems, is not true.
‘This is nothing to do with Kim and is all about Nicola,’ said a friend. ‘All David and Victoria want is their son back – and they will be there to welcome him any time.’