3 All aboard the love boat!
Honestly, have you ever seen Victoria and David Beckham look more loved up? Last week the couple, who married 20 years ago, followed their seemingly endless Italian holiday with a spell on a yacht off the coast of the South of France with their four children. At a time when the pair ought to be feeling the pressure – as Victoria prepares for this month’s London Fashion Week and David pushes forward in his plans to launch a football franchise in Miami – they appeared blissfully relaxed, posting photographs of their sun-drenched afternoons, spending quality time with Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish. It’s no coincidence that they seem at their best when they are with the legendary singer: he is a key confidante and an invaluable pillar of support in their long-term love story.
‘There aren’t many people who have been friends with David, 44, and Victoria, 45, throughout their relationship,’ a source tells Grazia. ‘They are so close-knit that it’s hard for anyone to penetrate, but Elton and David have undoubtedly become like family to them. When it came to guiding them through their early fame two decades ago, Elton was someone they came to rely on. And when they have had any ups and downs in their relationship, they have trusted Elton’s advice implicitly.’
This came to the fore several years ago, during a time of rumours around the state of David and Victoria’s marriage. Elton, 72, provided vital counsel on dealing with the pressures of major public scrutiny, making him something of a love whisperer for their relationship. ‘Elton knows more than most about how to handle a tabloid scandal, and his support was what bonded the four of them so tightly,’ the source adds. ‘He’s tough, and that’s what they love about him.’
Elton met Victoria when she was still
with the Spice Girls, making an enthusiastic cameo in their film Spice World. Their friendship blossomed quickly, leading to them becoming close to each other’s partners, too. In fact, Elton was set to perform at Victoria and David’s 1999 wedding – before a heart attack stopped him from making the journey. ‘They understood perfectly,’ he said, ‘and I’ll make it up to them.’ Indeed, he delivered on the promise by playing at Brooklyn and Romeo’s christening. He and David Furnish, 56, are godfathers to both boys, and take their duties seriously: they are firm fixtures at birthday celebrations and milestones. Elton, of course, provides similar support for other famous friends. Last month, he leaped to the defence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex amidst the row surrounding private jets, arguing their need for privacy and off-setting the carbon footprint of their flights when they stayed at his house in France.
Victoria, a source says, holds Elton in particularly high regard because he is one of the few people who has never asked her for anything in return for his support. Nevertheless, the support has gone both ways. In 2015, when Elton and David hit back against fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana after they branded gay adoption as unnatural and IVF as creating ‘synthetic children’, Victoria publicly backed her friends and their two young sons, saying ‘Sending love to Elton, David, Zachary, Elijah and all the beautiful IVF babies.’
They socialise together regularly, and have holidayed as a group frequently. Beyond that, they are in constant contact, speak even when in different parts of the world, and Elton has, Grazia understands, given vital advice on how Victoria can support the burgeoning musical aspirations of her youngest son, Cruz.
‘They have so much fun together,’ a source explains. ‘There’s no one else Victoria and David are so unguarded with outside of their extended family. Theirs is not your average showbiz friendship. They love each other deeply and trust each other completely. Truly, Victoria is never happier than when she’s with Elton.’