Becks’ party at palace ‘tawdry’

BRITAIN: Prince Andrew is to pay the bill for a private party for David Beckham’s 6-year-old daughter at Buckingham Palace, amid anger at the ‘‘tawdry’’ use of the Queen’s London home.

Beckham denied he had hired the palace to host a party for daughter Harper, after a picture he released of her and her friends posing with Princess Eugenie, 27, was criticised.

Royal sources yesterday attempted to defuse criticism of the event, insisting that the Duke of York would pay the bill for the afternoon tea party arranged last week by his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.

Beckham, 42, shared news of the visit with his 38.5 million followers on Instagram, posting a photograph of his daughter and her friends with the princess. He wrote: ‘‘Lucky Harper meeting a real life princess at the Palace x.’’

The former footballer was accompanied to the palace by his mother, Sandra. The party was in a corridor outside the Duke of York’s office and apartment.

In another post, Beckham was pictured cuddling his daughter in the palace courtyard with the caption: ‘‘Happy Birthday to our special little young lady ... Such a special girl who brings so much joy and happiness into our lives.’’

In response to questions about how he secured the invitation to the palace, Beckham wrote: ‘‘Just to be clear this wasn’t the Palace opening the gates for Harper’s birthday party. This was a tea party where us and other guests were invited so it was a beautiful thing to do with my mum, Harper plus a few school friends ... We were honoured to be able to [be] there.’’

Although the prince was the official host, it is understood the Beckhams had been invited by the duchess and her younger daughter, who were both present. There was confusion over the number of guests, with the royal sources saying that only the Beckham party was invited, while a friend of Beckham’s said other children were also present.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: ‘‘From time to time, members of the royal family who live at royal residences invite guests to visit them privately.’’

A spokesman for Beckham emphasised it was not a birthday party and added: ‘‘It was a private tea party last week that Harper was invited to. Harper’s birthday is today.’’

Dickie Arbiter, a former Buckingham Palace press secretary, said the event was tawdry.

‘‘What a nonsense. What are they doing there?’’ he said. ‘‘What is Eugenie having a party there for? What is Sarah York doing, having organised it – allegedly

‘‘None of them has got a right to be there. Is it being opened up as a theme park? It devalues what the place is all about.

‘‘They don’t allow cameras in the summer opening, and people can’t just walk out in the quadrangle and pose for photographs. So why do the Beckhams get special treatment?’’

Beckham got to know the duke when he was president of the Football Association. The position was later taken by Prince William, and the Beckhams were guests at his wedding. – The Times