David Beckham pays heartfelt birthday tribute to future king and close friend Prince William - amid his estranged son Brooklyn's 'new friendship' with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The Prince of Wales turned 43 years old on June 31, and received a number of celebratory messages from well-wishers.
Among them was one from former England captain David, 50, who shared two videos on the social media platform.
The first, which showed the two men laughing together while appearing to attend an event, and had text superimposed on the snap.
It simply said: 'Happy birthday Prince William,' while David signed off the message with an 'x', denoting a kiss.
Meanwhile, the second photo, showed the men smiling and shaking hands and tagged the Prince and Princess of Wales. It also said 'Happy Birthday', followed by a heart emoji.
David has been a longtime friend of the Royal Family and he was finally honoured with a knighthood for his services to sport and charity earlier this month.
His heartfelt messages follow reports that 26-year-old Brooklyn - the eldest son of David and Victoria, who, alongside his wife Nicola Peltz, 30, has fallen out with his parents and siblings - are developing a close friendship with William's estranged brother Harry, 40, and his wife Meghan.
David and Victoria have allegedly been described as being 'blindsided' by the growing rapport between their son and daughter-in-law, and the Sussexes.
It's believed the Sussexes were once good friends with David and Victoria, until the quartet had a messy fallout, allegedly falling out after a row over allegations of leaking stories to the press.
Friends of David and Victoria reportedly told The Sun: 'David and Victoria were blindsided by the news — they didn't see it coming. Of course it's a bit weird for them as they used to socialise with Meghan and Harry, and now their boy is doing it.
'David has no problem with Harry and has always acted very graciously towards him, even after the fall-out with Victoria, and they still communicate occasionally.
Brooklyn was just 13-years-old when he first met David Beckham at The Sun's Millies awards in 2011.
Posh and Becks also attended Harry, 40, and Meghan's, 43, wedding in 2018.
However, years later Meghan and Harry fell out with Victoria and David after the couple allegedly had a suspicion the Beckhams leaked stories about Meghan's help from Victoria to the press.
Victoria has denied the claim, which left David reportedly feeling 'absolutely bloody furious'.
According to recent reports, Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz recently went to the Sussexes' Montecito mansion, where they had dinner together.
It's claimed that the women had a 'deep and meaningful' chat and shared a bond after being accused by critics of being 'homewreckers' and women who 'tear apart their husbands' families. It is now alleged by a source that the Sussexes are now 'secretly supporting' Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz through their 'similar family feuds'.
Despite the close friendship David and William share, the former footballer's social media messages to the royal could be construed by some as the athlete firmly showing where his allegiances lie.
It does not appear that Meghan or Harry have publicly sent William any birthday wishes.
However, William's father King Charles and William's wife Kate Middleton both shared tributes. On Saturday morning, the monarch shared a believed-to-be unseen image of the heir via the Royal Family 's official X (formerly Twitter) account.
In the casual snap, the Prince of Wales is seen looking pensive as he sits outside in a field of grass in a rural setting. Dressed in a button down pale blue shirt, as well as navy slacks, the royal's informal look is further enhanced with his light beard. The image was accompanied by a simple caption which read: 'Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!'.
Many royal watchers took to the message to share their own well-wishes with the future king. One wrote: 'Happy birthday to our handsome and loyal Prince. Well done, your Majesty!'
Another added: 'Happy 43rd Birthday to HRH The Prince of Wales! Your dedication to service and family is truly inspiring. Wishing you a joyful day surrounded by loved ones!'
'Happy Birthday, William, The Prince of Wales,' said another social media user, keeping it short and sweet.
Marking the passage of time, a further X user added: 'Happy Birthday!! Future King! I still remember you as a little boy. Hard to believe we are in the future. May you have a wonderful Birthday!!'
And another said: 'And another said: 'Happy Birthday to His Royal Highness, Prince William, the Prince of Wales. Wishing him a remarkable day filled with joy, surrounded by his loved ones and friends. @RoyalFamily.'
Meanwhile Charles' post was followed by a tribute shared by Kate Middleton, 43, who also shared a snap and short written message.
The adorable image posted by Kate via the Wales' Kensington Royal social media account shows the heir sitting in a field, while playing with a group of small puppies, whose mother is believed to be Orla, the Wales' family dog.
In the image, the father-of-three is dressed casually, wearing jeans paired with a long-sleeved green button down shirt, as the puppies crawl over him sweetly.
The photograph is accompanied by a caption from the Princess of Wales and other members of their family.
It says: 'Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!'
The Prince of Wales has enjoyed a busy week in the lead-up to his birthday after last weekend's Trooping The Colour and joining the Royal Ascot carriage procession on Wednesday.
The photo shared by the Royal Family on Saturday was accompanied by a simple caption wishing William a happy birthday
However, he wasn't joined by his wife at the Berkshire racecourse as expected after she pulled out of the event at the 11th hour.
She was said to be 'disappointed' at not attending the famous social and sporting occasion with her husband Prince William and the King and Queen.
Racegoers had been hoping to see the Princess after the Prince of Wales was named as one of the figures awarding race prizes during the second day of the meet.
Ascot officials had confirmed at 12pm that the Princess was due to be in the second carriage in the royal procession with William, in a published carriage list.
But less than half an hour later, Kensington Palace confirmed just before 12.30pm that Kate would not be attending - and a revised carriage list was published by Ascot.
MailOnline understands the Princess was 'disappointed' not to be in attendance 'but she has to find the right balance as she fully returns to public facing engagements'.
In the past week Kate has attended three high-profile events - Trooping the Colour, the annual Order of the Garter service and a visit to a V&A storage facility in London.
It is a tradition for senior royals to have their birthdays marked with the release of photographs and messages.
Numerous royal watchers took to the comments' section of the X post, to share their own well wishes with the royal
Last year, the Royal Family wished the Prince of Wales a happy birthday with a sweet throwback snap on social media.
A young William is pictured in an adorable black and white shot with his father, King Charles III, to celebrate his eldest son turning 42.
The caption reads: 'Wishing the Prince of Wales a very happy birthday!'
This year's birthday post comes almost after the Wales family were seen at Trooping the Colour - the annual celebration of the monarch's official birthday.
William played a starring role in the event, riding on horseback alongside Princess Anne and the Duke of Edinburgh.
And he was elaborately dressed for the occasion, donning the Full Ceremonial Guard Order of the Welsh Guards, and a bearskin hat.
The prince also donned the Most Noble Order of the Garter Sash with the Lesser George and a Welsh Guards Sword.
His outfit included his four, full size medals - the Gold, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilee medals, plus the Coronation Medal.
In a caption accompanying the photo Kate shared to mark Prince William's birthday, she wrote: ''Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!'
Meanwhile, his wife and children travelled by carriage.
Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born second in line to the throne at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, at 9.03pm on June 21 1982. He weighed 7lb 1 1/2oz and was the first-born son of the then-Prince and the Princess of Wales.
At just nine months old, he accompanied his parents on a six-week official visit to Australia and New Zealand, which was a break from tradition with royal babies usually left at home in the care of nannies.
His mother Diana, who separated from the then-Prince of Wales in 1992, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
William was just 15 and his brother Prince Harry 12, and the boys walked behind the princess's coffin during a funeral procession through London.
The prince met Kate Middleton at St Andrews University in Fife, and the pair married at Westminster Abbey in 2011 after dating for more than eight years.
They welcomed their first child George in 2013, followed by Charlotte in 2015, and then Louis in 2018.
After the death of the late Queen in 2022, the King announced in his first historic address that he had made William and Kate the new Prince and Princess of Wales.
William has a long-running rift with his brother the Duke of Sussex, with no sign yet of a reconciliation.
The fallout originated ahead of Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex.
It worsened after the accusations Harry publicly levelled at his brother in his double tell-alls: his Netflix documentary and his memoir Spare.
Despite years elapsing since that time, the once reportedly close siblings are still estranged from each other.
This has prompted some to wonder whether the rift between the two will ever be healed.
Since becoming the Prince of Wales, William has kept himself busy with some major initiatives.
In 2023, he launched Homewards, his five-year drive to eradicate homelessness in six locations around the UK.
And he has continued to work on his other passion projects.
These include raising mental health awareness, and the Earthshot Prize, his £50million environmental competition to find solutions to help the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
5 best record players, reviewed by an audio expert
There's something mesmerising about lowering a needle onto a spinning record. Vinyl record sales are booming, and if you're looking to start your vinyl journey, or you're thinking about upgrading an old turntable, I've found the best record players that won't break the bank. There's a plethora of budget-friendly record players available that don't feel like compromises – decks that blend classic appeal with just enough modern convenience to make everyday use a doddle. I've been spinning my way through a selection of the latest relatively affordable record players from a range of brands. They may differ in design, features, and finish, but all share one thing in common: they make listening to records straightforward and joyful. Some have fully automatic operation – just press 'start' and let the deck do the rest – which is ideal for those wary of tonearm technicalities. Others come equipped with Bluetooth, enabling you to wirelessly stream to compatible speakers or headphones, if that's more convenient than a traditional wired setup. You'll even find models with a USB output, making it possible to digitise your collection. I think the Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT is by far the best option for most people, offering brilliant sound quality at a reasonable price. However, l've tested lots of other great options. Whether you're rekindling your love of vinyl or lighting the spark for the first time, I've taken a close listen to help you find the best record player for your needs. How we tested Each of the turntables on test was carefully assembled and connected to my trusted reference audio system, ensuring a consistent setup for every model. To get a true sense of musicality and character, I spun a wide range of vinyl: the atmospheric layers and vocal nuances of Björk, the sweeping dynamics of Strauss's orchestral works, and the brassy, chaotic joy of Stan Kenton's big band jazz. I used these records to assess these players by several criteria: Sound quality: The most important test of all. It's perhaps a little subjective, but my varied playlist helped reveal how each deck handled detail, rhythm, dynamics and stereo imaging – all qualities that matter whether you're a casual listener or a long-time collector. Resonance: Reasonance is any vibration that impacts sound quality, whether from the turntable itself or from the tone arm. I wanted record players that reduced this resonance. Tone arms: A tonearm holds the stylus, or the needle. I wanted a smooth, lightweight tone arm that was easy to place onto a vinyl without damaging the record. Cartridge: The cartridge houses the needle, also known as a stylus. It's how a record player reads a record. These can often be swapped between different turntables, but I wanted to check the quality of the included cartridges and ensure that they didn't skip. Tracking force: This is the amount of pressure a stylus needle puts onto the groove. I measured the tracking force of each deck and whether or not it could be adjusted to ensure perfect playback. Anti-skate settings: These settings stop the stylus from creating too much inward force as it moves towards the centre of the record, so I both looked out for and tested these settings Connection types: All the turntables included in our tried-and-tested lineup come with a built-in phono preamp, as well as the option of a traditional line out. Vinyl records produce a very low-level signal that needs special amplification and equalisation before it can be heard properly through speakers. Traditionally, this job was handled by a dedicated phono stage in a hi-fi amplifier, or a separate external unit, but a built-in phono preamp takes care of that for you. I wanted record players with as many ways to connect as possible. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Steve May is a technology journalist with more than 30 years' experience, specialising in home audio, home cinema, TV, soundbars and personal audio. He writes for a variety of popular audio websites and publications. His reviews are based on real-world testing, and he will only recommend the handful of products he believes are worth your money. The best record players for 2025 are:
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Music legend leaves Ryanair passengers STUNNED as they spot him on £47 flight to Bristol despite being worth a whopping £110M: 'He didn't even pay for fast track!'
Ryanair passengers were left stunned when they spotted a legend on their £47 flight from Venice's Marco Polo Airport to Bristol on Friday. Sir Bob Geldof, 73, cut a low key figure in dark shades and peaked cap while reportedly queuing for an hour to board the budget airline alongside his Boomtown Rats bandmates. The Live Aid founder, who is believed to be worth a whopping £110M, is said to have told one fellow passenger: 'I don't spend millions on luxury travel.' Bob sported a bushy beard and long hair while dressing casually for the two hour flight in a bleached denim shirt and blue jeans. Fellow traveler Jay Curtis told BristolLive that Bob had explained he and his band were heading home after a string of shows in Italy. 'There was quite a long queue at the Ryanair check-in, and Bob Geldof was there with the Boomtown Rats, had a selfie with him in the line but saw him twice again'. The 73-year-old cut a low key figure in dark shades and peaked cap while reportedly queuing for an hour to board the budget airline alongside his Boomtown Rats bandmates 'He didn't even pay to fast-track security or anything, he didn't moan or anything - he was just with everybody else'. Before adding: 'I was just surprised; the guy's worth £111M and he's queuing with everyone else'. Earlier his month the Live Aid 40th Anniversary Gala took place this weekend -with the likes of Sir Bob, Midge Ure and Sir Brian May in attendance. The original benefit, which lasted for 16 epic hours on July 13 1985, was organised by Bob and Midge to raise relief funds for Ethiopia as the East African country battled a devastating famine that would claim hundreds of thousands of lives in just two years. Almost 40 years after 72,000 fans converged on London's Wembley Stadium for an epic string of performances from some of the biggest stars of the 1980s, the duo were seen at the Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical on Sunday. Midge and Bob both looked smart as they turned up in shirts and blazers at The Shaftesbury Theatre. The 71-year-old Scottish singer seemed in good spirits as he stood on stage during the curtain call. Meanwhile, Irish icon Bob put on a performance for the crowd, wearing a black T-shirt and suede jacket. Passenger Jay Curtis (R) said how Bob had explained he and his band were heading home after a string of shows in Italy Queen legend Brian May, 77, was seen hugging Bob, 73, as the pair appeared to get emotional. Brian looked suave in a purple palm printed blazer as they embraced on the stage. In May, Bob and Midge were back on familiar ground as they reunited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. Echoing that hot summer's day in 1985, when stars such as David Bowie and Queen mesmerised fans across the world, the sun beat down as Bob and Midge took a trip down memory lane. Just seven-months after the 1984 release of Band Aid charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?, Geldof and Ure brought together some of the biggest musical artists of the 1980s for two huge concerts at Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Stadium. David Bowie, Sir Paul McCartney, Status Quo, Sir Elton John and Queen led a lengthy roster of performers in London, while Black Sabbath, Joan Baez, Run D.M.C and The Beach Boys joined a host of stars in Philadelphia. Watched by an estimated 1.9billion people across the world, the two concerts raised an astonishing £150 million in total for famine relief. BBC Two and BBC iPlayer announced plans to broadcast Live Aid at 40, revealing the behind-the-scenes story of the 1985 concert that brought the idea of charity to a new generation. During an appearance at the ground, Bob quipped to The Sun: 'It doesn't look that sort of different. I expect it to be mega and new and it just looks as crappy as before. I'm blue in the face listening to f***ing Freddie Mercury.' Reflecting on the musical, Midge added: 'I went in as a jaded rock star expecting cheese. But during the show this jaded rock star had a lump in his throat. 'One song jumped out in particular for me and I was never a big Bob Dylan fan. Blowing In The Wind, the interpretation that they've done on that was phenomenal.' Archive of the performances and back stage of the record and the concert feature Paula Yates, Boy George, Status Quo and George Michael whilst interviews with Nile Rodgers, Lenny Henry, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Patti LaBelle, Roger Taylor and Brian May are set against the memories of the Ethiopian politicians at the heart of the relief effort, Dawit Giorgis and Berhane Deressa.
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Oasis megafan with stage 4 cancer who thought he had missed his chance to see the band perform is surprised by childhood friends with tickets
A man with stage four cancer was stunned after being surprised with Oasis tickets after he was too ill to secure them when they went on sale last year. Lee Brown, 50, from Sheffield, was diagnosed in 2016 with gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), a rare type of cancer that develops in the digestive system. The Oasis megafan had a 26cm tumour growing in his stomach and has had three surgeries in the last nine years in an attempt to cure the disease. However, three months ago, Lee and his family were told by medics that his treatment was no longer working. He is now regularly travelling between South Yorkshire and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London for a clinical trial in the hope it will help his cancer. The mental health community team leader was disappointed last August when he was too ill to secure Oasis tickets for their comeback tour this year and thought he had missed his chance to see his favourite band perform once again. That was until his best friends decided to surprise him with tickets to see Liam and Noel Gallagher perform at Heaton Park, Manchester - their home city - on Saturday, after raising money through a secret Just Giving page. Lee told MailOnline: 'Oasis has been the soundtrack of our friendship and our lives. I last saw them in Chicago in 2001. 'I was pretty ill when the tickets went on sale and thought I had missed my chance. Jane did a secret Just Giving appeal for my ticket last week in social media without my knowledge and the £800 was raised in four hours from her making a post, apparently. I can't thank her and everyone who donated enough.' The father-of-three added: 'The concert was everything I thought it would be and more! Words can't do it justice. Unreal!' Lee posted a video on X showing his childhood friends David Wroe, Paul Deacon and Jane Wroe, pulling up to his house blasting Stand By Me clad in Oasis branded merchandise. 'Have you seen him? Have you really come to show off? You're kidding,' Lee said while playfully shaking his head. They then got out of the car before handing him a letter, while saying: 'We've come to show off, we've not got you a ticket, don't be daft, they're like £4,000 each.' He then read Jane's letter aloud and said: 'To my adopted brother Lee, Stop Crying Your Heart Out because you, me and David are off to Heaton Park to see Oasis. There's no-one we'd rather have next to us 'You're more than a brother, you're more than a mate, you're a hero and this is our way of saying thank you for being you. Take your bucket hat because your dream of Oasis is coming true. 'We're going to Rock 'N' Roll Stars. Yes, we'll be filming your reaction, no we won't be deleting the footage ever. There's another surprise at the back of the car.' In the back of Jane and David's car was Lee's other childhood best friend, David, who got out and surprised him with a big, emotional hug. WHAT IS GIST? GIST stands for GastroIntestinal Stromal Tumour. A GIST can occur when special cells within the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract change so that they grow more than they should. GISTS often have no symptoms but it can vary depending on size and location of the tumour. Symptoms: Fatigue (tiredness and a feeling of weakness) Weight loss Tummy (abdominal) discomfort or pain A painless lump in the abdomen Being sick (vomiting) Blood in the stools (bowel motions) or vomit Anaemia (low level of red blood cells) Source: NHS He said: 'David and Paul have been my best mates since eight years of age and Jane is David's sister, who I have known since she was born and see as my own little sister. I also have the best group of friends. It's a unique and strong bond we've all had throughout our lives.' 'My favourite part was my favourite song Live Forever, which is more and more poignant as time goes on. But it was all honestly immense, I sang every word. I hope [Noel and Liam] know how much this has meant to so many people. 'I think in such a tough time in the UK, the [Noel and Liam] need to realise the happiness and magic they have brought back into people's lives and my story is one of many that show that.' Although he had the best time with his closest friends, Lee said that his 'only tinge of sadness' was that he couldn't go with his family, especially his 16-year-old son Freddie 'who shares my deep passion for everything Sheffield Wednesday and Oasis'. He added: 'Hopefully I will still be around the next time they tour and we can share that moment together.' Since being diagnosed with cancer, Lee has raised over £100,000 for different charities, including £20,000 for GIST Cancer UK to help work towards a cure. 'This has all been done with the help of my amazing friends and family,' he said, including his partner Lisa, 50, and his children Hanaa, 29, Lily, 17, Freddie, 16 and his granddaughter Piper, four, who he 'adores'. Lee, his family and his friends are all hopeful that his clinical trial the Royal Marsden Hospital in London will help his cancer. 'It's an amazing hospital and exciting trial, so I remain positive,' he said.
