Latest news with #DuchessOfYork
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The truth behind Harper Beckham's birthday at Buckingham Palace and David Beckham's close relationship with the Royal Family
While best known for his football career and marriage to Posh Spice, David Beckham has long described himself as a 'huge royalist'. The former England captain, who was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2003, first struck up a friendship with William and Harry in the 1990s and attended both of their weddings. And after years of developing a close bond with the Firm - even queueing to see the late Queen lie in state - he was awarded a knighthood as part of the King Charles 's Birthday Honours List earlier this year. With royal connections and money being no object, it seems only natural the Beckhams would spare no expense for their childrens' parties. Today, David and Victoria Beckham 's youngest child, Harper Seven, turns 14. While the teenager is unlikely to want a princess-themed party this year, eight years ago she was treated to an afternoon tea party of a lifetime by Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York. Back in 2017 when six-year-old Harper was enrolled in a top London Stage school attended by Pixie Lott and Louise Redknapp, the Beckhams made headlines for sharing photos of their daughter dressed as Princess Elsa from Frozen joined by a group of friends inside Buckingham Palace. Details of the supposedly private tea party were kept secret on the day until David and Victoria posted a series of photos on Instagram days later, much to the royals' dismay. The 'indiscreet' publication of the pictures which showed the children enjoying the run of the royal residence caused frustration at the Palace. One image was taken by the former footballer inside Andrew's private office with Princess Eugenie. Eugenie can be seen kneeling down with her arms around two of Harper's five friends who were invited to the Palace. Underneath the picture, David wrote: 'Lucky Harper meeting a real life princess at the Palace.' A third photograph shows Harper on her own, holding a red balloon in the Palace's central quadrangle, with the message from mother Victoria: 'Our little birthday princess x Kisses.' As the pictures went viral - being viewed several million times within hours - both the Beckhams and Buckingham Palace came under fire online. One critic wrote: 'If you have enough money you can buy anything!!' Another said: 'Is this a new commercial venture by the Royal Family or do all little princesses now get an invite?' This was not the only posh party held for David Beckham's daughter. Harper - who turns 14 today - is pictured at her Prada birthday party in 2023 King Charles, patron of the Royal Horticultural Society, shakes hands with Beckham during a visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2025 Prince William, Prince Harry and Beckham attend a reception for Fifa officials on behalf of the English Football Association in honour of the Fifa World Cup in 2010 in South Africa At the time royal author Robert Jobson warned that Buckingham Palace should not be seen as a 'party venue for millionaires', particularly when the Queen was due to receive £370million of public money for a top-to-toe refit. He said: 'It seems odd to me that if you have the money or connections then the Palace – a building funded by the British taxpayer – can be used in this way for a selected few. If it is just for the rich and famous it is simply not right. 'The Palace is the venue for glittering state occasions but when it is used – or misused like this – surely the public is entitled to know how it came about, who organised it, was money paid and why it is only open to rich and famous ex-footballers.' David posted a further post after the party adding: 'One last picture of the birthday girl. '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...' Asked to explain why the tea party was held, a Buckingham Palace spokesman at the time confirmed the 'private' event. He said: 'From time to time members of the Royal Family who reside at royal residences invite guests to visit privately.' A royal source added: 'Any costs in terms of refreshments were covered by Andrew privately.' Harry holds hands with Victoria Beckham at a Spice Girls concert in South Africa in 1997 Sources close to the Duchess of York insisted it was a 'family' event, with the invitation being extended by the whole of the York family. 'Members of the Royal Family often invite friends for tea at the palace and the Beckhams are family friends. This was a treat for Harper and some of her friends,' the source said. However, they admitted the Beckhams' decision to publish photos had not gone down well. 'It was very indiscreet for them to have posted pictures on a public forum of what was a private family event,' they said. It seems that the Royal Family's disagreement with the Beckhams was soon resolved as David and Victoria were invited to Harry's wedding a year later. The Beckhams, who have a combined fortune estimated at £455million, made a very generous gesture in the run-up to the Sussexes' big day. When Meghan returned to her native Los Angeles to find paparazzi camped outside her mother's home, the Beckhams offered the former actress the use of their six-bedroom, Italian-style villa in the city, where she was waited on by their staff. And after Meghan moved into Kensington Palace, Victoria, whose fashion label was expanding into beauty products, gave her advice on make-up and a member of her staff provided her with help on facials and hairdressing. Free of charge, of course. (Left to right) Princess Beatrice, Harry, Queen Elizabeth II and David at a reception for the Queen's Young Leaders Awards at Buckingham Palace in June 2016 When news of the Beckhams' generosity made the press, however, Meghan was said to be outraged. The Beckhams denied leaking information but the reportedly hyper-sensitive Harry and Meghan became distrustful of them. The Mail on Sunday was told in July 2023 the accusation left David 'absolutely bloody furious'. And while David and Victoria did go on to attend Harry and Meghan's wedding ceremony, they were not invited to the evening reception. When Harry and Meghan prepared to make their move to California and step away from royal life, the Beckhams refused to take sides in the row between them and Prince William and his wife Kate. David had previously got to know William when they both played an important part in the bid for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Although the bid was unsuccessful, the pair stayed in touch. The retired footballer had always been an ardent royalist, who would stand up for the Queen's Speech every Christmas dressed in his Sunday best. Plus he queued for 12 hours to view the Queen's coffin when her body was lying in state in Westminster. David said one of the reasons he wanted to pay tribute to the late Queen was that some of his biggest moments on the football field involved honouring Her Majesty. 'Every time that we stood there when we wore those Three Lion shirts and I had my armband and we sang God Save The Queen, that was something that meant so much to us. 'Every time that we did it, it was something special,' he said. This comes as Harper's brother, Brooklyn, and his actress wife Nicola Peltz are embroiled in an escalating feud with his family and previously failed to publicly acknowledge David's milestone 50th birthday on May 8. David and Victoria's 26th wedding anniversary also passed without mention, despite the former Manchester United and England footballer referencing Brooklyn in his own post. And sources fear Harper could be 'collateral damage' should they fail to acknowledge her birthday celebration as the feud with her parents escalates. An insider told The Mirror: 'Harper's been particularly affected by what's going on because she's always been really close to Brooklyn. 'They've always had a lovely bond because Brooklyn was that bit older when Harper was born and the hope when Brooklyn married Nicola was that she'd become like a big sister to Harper in a house full of brothers. 'But obviously that hasn't happened and it's potentially going to be heartbreaking for Harper if Brooklyn doesn't show up for her on her birthday. William speaks with Beckham as he arrives for a visit to RAF Northolt to view the two new London Air Ambulance Charity helicopters in October 2024 David previously thanked wife Victoria for their 'beautiful children' as the couple both acknowledged estranged son Brooklyn while celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary on July 4. The former footballer who also shares sons Romeo, 20, and Cruz, 22 with the ex Spice Girl, 51, shared a series of throwback snaps of the family in happier times. Declaring his love for Victoria, who he referred to as Lady Beckham following his Knighthood, he wrote: '26 years today you said YES to me Happy Anniversary and thank you for giving me our beautiful children and building the life that we have together.' He went on to tag his children, including estranged son Brooklyn. Victoria, 51, also tagged her eldest son, captioning her post: 'Another year, another chapter in our love story. 'I'm so proud of the beautiful family and life we've built together. You and our four incredible children complete me. I love you so much @davidbeckham. Here's to 26 years!!' Despite the apparent olive branch, insiders believe Brooklyn will not be in attendance for Harper's birthday. The source added: 'He took a stand and missed his dad's 50th so he's not likely to suddenly do a U-turn and forget everything that's happened, as much as he loves Harper. 'But if he did, it could be a much-needed olive branch to start repairing things. An end to the family drama would be the best birthday present Harper - and her parents - could ask for.'
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sarah Ferguson Makes First Wimbledon Royal Box Appearance in Decades. Last Time, She Was Beside Princess Diana
Sarah Ferguson returned to the Royal Box at Wimbledon on June 30, reportedly for the first time in decades The Duchess of York attended the first day of the tennis tournament with her daughter, Princess Beatrice Fergie and Beatrice sat in the Royal Box, taking a prime seat court sideSarah Ferguson is back in the Royal Box at Wimbledon for the first time since attending with Princess Diana decades ago. On June 30, the Duchess of York, who is popularly known as Fergie, attended the first day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. The Duchess of York, 65, arrived at the event with her daughter, Princess Beatrice as they took a prime seat in the Royal Box. Fergie and Princess Beatrice, 36, were animated fans in the stands as they watched the match between defending men's singles champion Carlos Alcaraz and Fabio Fognini on June 30. It was a meaningful day out for the mother-daughter duo, as Fergie is believed to have not sat in Wimbledon's Royal Box for 37 years — her last time being in 1988 alongside Princess Diana. While the Duchess was last photographed at the tournament in 2000, she reportedly hasn't attended since. The Duchess of York previously told PEOPLE that she and Diana, were 'best friends from when I was 14 and she was 15,' and credited the Princess of Wales with introducing her to Prince Andrew, whom she married in 1986 and divorced a decade later. Diana would have turned 64 on July 1. Despite its regal name, the Royal Box at Wimbledon isn't reserved solely for royalty. While it's where All England Club patron Kate Middleton and other members of the royal family are often seen during the tournament, invitations to sit there are extended by the club's chair — not the royals themselves. "British and overseas Royal Families are invited as well as heads of government, people from the world of tennis, commercial partners, British armed forces, prominent media organizations, supporters of British tennis and other walks of life," the Wimbledon website says about how to score a seat. The courtside Royal Box has served as a VIP area since 1922 and includes access to a private clubhouse for lunch, along with a 'smart' dress code. One specific rule stands out: no hats — so as not to block the view of the guest seated behind you! Other stars spotted at the first day of Wimbledon included the newly knighted David Beckham, Eddie Redmayne, former Wimbledon champ Maria Sharapova, Simu Liu and his fiancee, Allison Hsu, Jessica Alba and her daughter, Honor and more. Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have been regulars at Wimbledon in recent years, with Beatrice and Fergie kicking off what's sure to be a parade of royal appearances at the tennis tournament this year. The Wimbledon Championships run from June 30 to July 13, and another member of the British royal family was spotted in the stands on Monday. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Cameras captured King Charles' cousin, Lady Gabriella Windsor, attending Wimbledon with a friend identified as Robert Denning. The Daily Mail reported that Denning is a philanthropist and former entrepreneur, and the pair were photographed laughing and chatting as they watched the tennis. Lady Gabriella stepped out with Denning over a year after her husband, Thomas Kingston, died by suicide at age 45 in February 2024. Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sarah Ferguson makes her first Wimbledon appearance in more than 20 years as she joins Princess Beatrice in the royal box
Princess Beatrice appeared to be in high spirits as she joined her mother Sarah Ferguson on the first day of Wimbledon on Monday. The mother-daughter duo were seen beaming as they arrived to take their seats in the Royal Box at the renowned tennis competition in south west London. It marks the Duchess of York's first appearance at the tournament in more than 20 years, as she would often regularly attend matches with Princess Diana in the 1980s and 1990s. The pair couldn't stop beaming as they greeted Hannah Bagshawe and Eddie Redmayne, who were also seated inside the Royal Box. Princess Beatrice, 36, looked effortlessly chic as she stepped out in a £445 blue and white striped shirt and skirt embroidered with large white flowers from Sandro Paris. She accessorised her look with a grey crocodile-print clutch bag and wore her signature wavy auburn tresses down in a bouncy blow-dry. Sarah - affectionately known as Fergie by royal fans - had all eyes on her as she opted to wear a bright green paisley print dress complete with an emerald Van Cleef & Arpels motif bracelet - similar to one seen on Queen Camilla 's wrist on royal outings. Prince Andrew's ex-wife styled her bold and vibrant look with a simple brown box bag and simple diamond hoop earrings. She wore her fiery locks down in a half up, half down hairstyle and chose to wear natural makeup with a hint of eyeliner and mascara. As ever, the pair were seen watching the match unfold between Carlos Alcaraz and Fabio Fognini through their stylish sunglasses. Also seated in the prestigious section - which is thought to be the best viewpoint of the Centre Court - was Lady Gabriella Kingston. She was pictured laughing with philanthropist and former entrepreneur Robert Denning, who is on the board of trustees at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She put her best fashion foot forward in a white collared frock printed with delicate lilac flowers as she discussed the match with Robert while also waving a portable fan in front of her face to keep her cool in the 33-degree heat. This outing comes weeks Fergie spoke candidly about her decision to seek 'sanctuary' at a recovery centre in Switzerland - a high-end clinic known for offering 'bespoke, cutting-edge treatment' for people grappling with mental health and addiction challenges. 'I've always known there were issues I needed to address, stemming from my childhood and my time in the public eye,' she said, writing for the Telegraph. 'Then I was diagnosed with cancer, twice in the same year - something that would be challenging for anyone in terms of mental as well as physical health.' During her time at the clinic, she said she engaged in deep conversations about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), delving into the long-term mental health impact of her early experiences and public scrutiny. She opened up about 'the profound scars' left by her childhood, which contributed to feelings of low self-worth and disordered eating. The Duchess said she struggled with a negative relationship with food, shaped in part by harsh treatment and cruel labels she endured in the press. Fergie was infamously mocked in the 1980s, branded 'Fat Fergie' and the 'Duchess of Pork' during her first pregnancy when she gained weight. She also reflected on the toll of more recent online abuse, calling social media a 'cesspit' of negativity. After revealing her candid thoughts to the newspaper, Fergie was seen attending Royal Ascot with Beatrice. The 65-year-old looked elegant in a coordinated navy blazer and skirt with lace detailing, paired with a cream clutch. Smiling warmly for the cameras, she was joined by daughter Princess Beatrice, 36, and fellow royal Zara Tindall. Her return to the royal fold at such a high-profile event signals a personal milestone after a year marked by both physical illness and emotional healing. The mother-of-two continues to speak openly about mental health and the lasting effects of public life, breaking long-held taboos in royal circles. And Fergie maintains a cherished connection with her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with the trio referring to themselves as the 'tripod'.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sweet moment King Charles kisses Sarah Ferguson's hand at Ascot as royals step out in force on day 4 at racecourse
KING Charles was seen kissing Sarah Ferguson's hand in a touching moment at Royal Ascot today. The monarch was seen greeting the Duchess of York, along with daughter Eugenie on day four at the racecourse this afternoon. 3 3 Earlier in the day, Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie were seen sharing a warm embrace. King Charles was later seen talking to the family during day four of the races. Sarah and Eugenie were also present earlier in the week. It comes after the King suffered a streak of bad horseracing luck on day one of the event. The family horse, Reaching High, suffered a 'stinker' in the closing stages under jockey Ryan Moore. Meanwhile, his horse, Rainbows Edge, was smashed into a 7-2 favourite for the Kensington Palace Stakes. The horse won last year's competition and has only lost four races. Earlier this week, Princess Kate pulled out of the event in a last minute decision as she adjusts to her royal duties. Despite having been listed on the carriage procession with Prince William, the palace revealed that she had sadly dropped out of the event just minutes later. Prince William was seen enjoying the races with his fellow royals as the day wore on - drinking pints to cool off on the gloriously sunny day. Sources say Kate is still adjusting to her royal duties after undergoing cancer treatment last year. Since announcing her cancer was in remission in January, she has been seen at royal events like Trooping the Colour and Order of the Garter.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Swiss sanctuary for Freebie Fergie: EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE
Excluded from the Garter parade, Prince Andrew's public banishment continued yesterday with his non-appearance at Royal Ascot. At least the disgraced Duke was invited to the Windsor Castle lunch before the King, Queen and other royals took part in the carriage procession to the nearby course. My source whispers that Andrew is sometimes on hand to help entertain guests, especially on days when other royals are thin on the ground, although dressed in his best bib and tucker he isn't allowed to join them on the course. At least he is spared the washing up. Compare and contrast Donald Trump's £33million Washington military parade with the £60,000 estimated cost of the Trooping the Colour, the King's birthday parade, on the same day. The bill included 'crown feeding' (rations for troops and horses), temporary stables and transport hire. But not security. Nor the funds from royal regiment colonels to allow soldiers to quench their thirsts. Pity the Coldstream Guards, who were the stars of this year's Trooping. They haven't had a royal colonel since Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, passed away in 1850. The Duchess of York, pictured, was afforded three pages in a broadsheet newspaper yesterday to spout about the scars inflicted by a traumatic childhood and life in the public eye. 'All of this inspired my recent visit to Paracelsus Recovery in Zurich,' she wrote. 'Which kindly hosted me as a guest.' Unless you're Freebie Fergie, the clinic charges around £100,000 for a week's treatment. The Who's Pete Townshend is resigned to never replicating bandmate Roger Daltrey's Birthday Honours List gong. Having received a police caution in 2003 for accessing child abuse images while researching, Pete spent five years on the sex offenders register. He reckons: 'The only thing that must be frustrating for those people who distribute gongs up in London, they probably want to give me a knighthood but they can't.' Comic Harry Hill takes issue with Grayson Perry for accepting a knighthood, telling a podcast: 'I tackled Grayson, 'cos when Wordsworth accepted the Poet Laureate post, Robert Browning wrote a poem about it and it starts, "For a handful of silver he left us, just for a ribbon to stick on his coat". In Grayson's case, was it a dress?'
