DIVIDED HOUSE
Posh and Becks are out of sync
They’ve weathered many storms during their 19-year marriage – including an infamous alleged dalliance with a former nanny.
Now, four children and a massive empire later, David and Victoria Beckham are once again facing rumours of trouble in their relationship, and despite repeated assurances from their publicists that all is well, the speculation refuses to die.
Last week, the pair, who are parents to Brooklyn (19), Romeo (15), Cruz (13) and Harper (7), celebrated their wedding anniversary, complete with gushy Instagram tributes.
“19 years WOW… this time 19 years ago I was dressed from head to toe in purple… happy anniversary to the most amazing wife and mummy… love you x” wrote David, while Victoria (44) posted the same picture to her social media accounts with the simple caption “19 years! I love you so much x”.
But their public declarations of love have done little to convince many, who still claim their union is in trouble – citing new properties, managers, countries and businesses in crisis as reasons.
Stepping out together at a sports day for their kids in London last week, the pair were pictured looking out of sync as they watched the action, with a body language expert noting that while the poses still indicate a happily married couple, Victoria seems to be putting in far more effort and much more affection than her husband.
“In terms of creating a passionate and romantic display of public affection, it does seem to be Victoria putting in most of the work,” says pro Judi James. “She gazes up at his face as though needy for attention, but it looks as though David is sitting facing the front with his arms folded rather than the usual reciprocal hugging.”
Judi also commented on the picture the pair posted for their anniversary, noting that they aren’t actually holding hands.
“What’s interesting is that there’s a slight disconnect with their body language… Victoria is putting in a massive effort to make this look like a ‘real togetherness’ shot.”
The couple have been spending less time together lately, with David (43) moving to Miami temporarily to found a new football club, while Victoria has stayed behind in London with her three youngest children, who are still in school.
“They’ve seen Daddy fly to Miami, they’ve seen him come back,” says David. “They’ve seen him smile from talking about Miami, they’ve seen me frustrated. The way to teach them is by saying, ‘It’s not all smooth sailing; there are going to be difficult times. It’s about how you react when you go through difficult times.’”
The family has flown out several times to visit David in America, with Victoria noting at a Forbes’ women’s summit last week, “I try really, really hard.
“I try hardest to be the best mother. I am trying to be the best wife and the best professional. When I get home, I try to put the phone down and spend time with the children and spend time with David.”
A friend close to Victoria says this is typical of the former Spice Girl, adding, “Over the years, Victoria has fought hard for her marriage and David. She never gave up when someone else might have.”
With the physical distance between them showing no signs of abating, it seems their businesses are heading in different directions too.
It’s emerged that David has split with his and Victoria’s longtime manager Simon Fuller, who catapulted the Spice Girls to fame in the mid-’90s, and has chosen a management team completely separate from his wife for the first time instead.
Business also seems to be a sticking point, with Victoria’s fashion label, while globally lauded, making an almost $10 million loss last year – despite a huge $50 million injection from David’s company.
However, that hasn’t stopped the couple, who are worth close to $1 billion combined, buying a new $10 million farmhouse in rural Oxfordshire – though apparently the appeal of the property is its two distinct wings.
“It actually works out well for David, Victoria and the kids,” a source says. “If they’re all driving each other mad, they can retreat into these wings like they are living in separate houses.”
Despite all this, others close to the pair are confident they can conquer anything.