Why are the Beckhams falling out over their children?

victoria beckham david beckham

by Daisy McLure |
Updated on

Fresh tension surfaces ahead of Harper’s birthday celebrations

They have nicknamed her the "princess" of the family – and sparked outrage two years ago when they hosted a lavish tea party for their only daughter at Buckingham Palace and last year bought her a pedigree pony.

And as Harper Beckham turns eight this week, insiders say her mum, Victoria, has splurged a "five-figure sum" on a lavish party and presents.

Check out: Katie Price’s showbiz feuds including the David Beckham allegation and Victoria Beckham 'dog' spat

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From Kavana to Victoria Beckham: Katie Priceu2019s showbiz feuds - Closer (slider)

Katie Price showbiz feud1 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images & ITV

Katie Price showbiz feud

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CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Victoria Beckham

This is one of our favourites. Picture the scene: Victoria Beckham (then Queen WAG, not top fashion designer), at Manchester United, surrounded by a group of Gucci-clad wives and girlfriends – singing Who Let The Dogs Out as Katie Price walked through the lounge.Speaking on her Fubar radio show in 2014, Katie explained: "All it is is that years ago she sang the song in the Manchester United lounge and there's where it started from. "And in a nightclub David held my hand behind her back, it was in my book. It was years ago."She has since thrown shade at Posh Spice's son Cruz Beckham.

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CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Kerry Katona

After meeting in the I'm a Celebrity jungle in 2004, Katie and Kerry quickly became besties – and Kezza was even bridesmaid at Kate's wedding to Peter Andre.But they fell out in 2007, when Katie publicly disapproved of Kerry's relationship with Mark Croft, labelling her 'a druggie' and him a 'bully'.But they made up in 2014, and Kerry even asked Katie to be a bridesmaid at her wedding to George Kay.

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CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Kelly Brook

Katie briefly dated Kelly's ex-boyfriend Danny Cipriani, but ended things when she caught him in bed with another woman.But model Kelly was NOT impressed when Katie sold the story in 2013. She tweeted: :@MissKatiePrice Your [sic] doing a kiss&tell on Danny?? Haha that's hilarious. You dated for 5mins and was one of many at the time. Desperate."They've never resolved things, and fell out again in 2014 when Katie branded Kelly a 'heifer'.

Katie Price VS Katie Hopkins5 of 11
CREDIT: Channel 5

Katie Price VS Katie Hopkins

Before coming face-to-face in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2015, motormouth Hopkins angered the Pricey by slamming her youngest daughter's name.Referencing Pricey's husband Kieran's affairs, she tweeted: "BUNNY? Makes sense, given your dad was going at it like a rabbit will all of mum's mates."They did not resolve things in the house, and shortly after winning the show Pricey said: "She's a disgusting human being. She really is."

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CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Peaches Geldof

In November 2012, Katie commented negatively on a photo of the late Peaches Geldof's son Astala, then six-months, playing with their dog Parper.Writing in her column for The Sun, Katie said: "An animal is an animal and that means she they can turn on you at any point. All new mums should also remember that dogs can easily get jealous of new babies."But Peaches hit back. She tweeted: "Funny that Katie Price aka 'Jordan' lol thinks that I shouldn't allow my gentle, sweet golden retriever dog near his best friend, my son. Could say the same thing to her about letting some of the multitude of 'boyfriends' she has near her kids [sic]."

Katie Price VS Havana7 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Havana

Poor Katie. She went into the Celebrity Big Brother house to make friends – and it looked like she did. She and 90s pop star Kavana teamed up for his new music video following their exit, but he later made the mistake of talking about her in an interview.Discussing the budding pop star, Kav told The Sun: "We've decided to to a duet. I mean, God bless her, she can't really sing, can she? But I've said to her that I'll get her in the studio and make it sound good."Unsurprisingly, Katie was NOT impressed with his catty comments. She said: "I did a favour for @kavana_official by appearing in his music video as a favour when he asked by NEVER discussed going a duet with his and this is something that will NEVER happen as infact I'm in the studio recording my own tracks solo [sic]."

Katie Price Kimberley Crew8 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Kimberley Crew

When Katie sent a cryptic tweet on Joe Hart and Kimberly Crew's wedding day in July, it was assumed she was suggesting she and Joe had history.Katie teased: "All Harts go out to the married couple is he going to tell her the truth about us? [sic]."Joe and Kimberly have never publicly commented on the rumours, but a source told The Sun at the time: "Kim couldn't care less. She thinks Katie is a clueless bimbo. "She has no concerns about Joe's loyalty and told friends, 'In her dreams! She probably wishes she could get her hands on him!'"

Katie Price Alicia Douvall9 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Alicia Douvall

Katie came up against another former frenemy in the CBB house in 2015: Alicia Douvall. Although the two former glamour girls appeared to make up during their time on the show, Alicia hit out after being the first evicted.She told Star magazine: "[Katie] was looking at my body and making comments. There was a twitch of jealousy. Katie is a very clever girl and it was a strategic move to save Katie H [from nomination]."It was revealed in the house that Katie and Alicia both dated Dwight Yorke, the father of Katie's eldest son Harvey.But Alicia added: "It wasn't only Dwight. There are other exes we've shared. We were direct rivals when we were both modelling. She once tried to beat me up in a night club when she was pregnant!"

Katie Price Jodie Marsh10 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Jodie Marsh

Probably Katie's most infamous feud – she and Jodie Marsh have never hidden their feelings about each other.When Jodie first emerged on the glamour modelling scene Katie accused her of 'copying her'.In 2015, over a decade after their feud originally erupted, Jodie angered Katie again by insisting she's 'the one who's famous for having loads of kids with different dads'.Katie took to Twitter to hit back, writing: "Don't knock mothers like me, there's lots of us. Didn't you go out with my exes names written all over your body, marking them out of ten after you shagged them (classy)? Well, you've shagged nearly all my leftovers and not one of them wanted you (gutted)."

Katie Price Chris Hughes11 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images & ITV

Katie Price VS Chris Hughes

We will NEVER forget Katie Price and Love Island star Chris Hughes' 2017 drama. It all began after Katie denied sending Chris any flirty messages after he said he was ignoring her.Things took a turn for the worse when Chris posted text messages she had sent him but it wasn't long before she hinted she has over 50 screenshots of private messages he sent her.Just when we thought things couldn't get any more juicier The Sun then verified that Chris HAD sent the mum-of-five private messages (even though he originally denied ever doing so). Pricey then went one step further and flashed one of those secret messages.Eek!

david beckham victoria beckham
©Getty Images

A source says, "Vic says birthdays are an excuse to go all-out and has hired party planners to put on a spa day at home for Harper and her friends – offering hairstyling, mani-pedis, makeovers, mini-facials and pink lemonade 'mocktails'.

"The party will then turn into a sleepover – with the girls all in teepees adorned with fairy lights, plush blankets emblazoned with ‘Harper 8’ along with eye masks, personalised silk robes with their names embroidered on them, spa slippers and individual midnight feast bags filled with Harper’s favourite treats.

"The party bags have necklaces, nail polish sets and clothes from Victoria’s kids’ collection."

david beckham harper seven beckham
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But insiders tell Closer that Posh’s extravagance worries husband David, who is concerned about spoiling their children – including Brooklyn, 20, Romeo, 16, and Cruz, 14.

The source says, "David loves seeing Harper excited about her party, but he’s also conscious about not spoiling her and has asked Vic to tone things down – insisting that they don’t want her to become complacent and unappreciative.

"Harper is a lovely, happy child and shows no signs of being spoilt. David is mindful not to change that.

"He wants them to have as normal a childhood as possible – like his – but Vic wants them to have amazing memories of family occasions, especially now the boys are older and want to do their own thing with their friends. Harper’s birthday celebrations are the only real opportunity she gets to go all-out with a family do."

beckham family anna wintour
©Getty Images

Posh, 44, and David, 43, have taken very different approaches to parenting. In May, Posh took Harper to the Dior exhibition at the V&A and is often snapped on the front row at couture fashion shows across the globe alongside Vogue editor Anna Wintour and the A-list elite.

Meanwhile, David’s known for more low-key activities with his daughter – taking her to football matches, ice skating and fun days out at Legoland.

The source adds, "They’re both very hands-on but they have different parenting styles, which they sometimes clash over. Vic has always loved the finer things in life. They’re just quite different people with different approaches to family life."

victoria beckham harper beckham
©Getty Images

In 2014, fans were shocked to learn that despite their parents’ fortune, Brooklyn – who was 15 at the time – had a part-time job earning just £2.62 an hour at his local coffee shop. Reacting to the news, David said, "We try to lead by example, by showing them it’s important to work hard.

"That’s one of the key things me and my wife have always done."

The former professional footballer regularly goes to Miami, where he’s launching a football club, and insiders say that as he aims to have the club running by 2022, it means he’ll be spending increasing amounts of time in Florida. Insiders say with Posh in charge of the kids in his absence, he wants to put his point across now.

Closer magazine
©Closer magazine

The source says, “David is racing against the clock to get his business set up and knows he’ll be overseas a lot, leaving Vic in charge. He knows they have different styles of parenting and wants to make sure Vic understands where he is coming from. She’s heard him out, but still wants to do things her way.”

The couple – who were forced to shoot down divorce rumours last year following speculation over the state of their marriage – swapped lovey-dovey messages on Instagram last week on their 20th wedding anniversary. And pals say the fashion designer, who was snapped kissing and dancing with David at Glastonbury recently, wants to use Harper’s birthday to mark a fresh start for them as a couple.

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Posh’s tears: the row with Brooklyn that’s breaking the Beckhams

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The source adds, "This time last year, Vic was in a difficult place with the stories about tension between them, but they’ve rebuilt their marriage and come out stronger, so she wants to celebrate that alongside the kids as a family unit.

"She’s had to take a long hard look at herself and her priorities and decided what really mattered to her. While Vic wants a big party for Harper, she also wants them to just put an end to the tough few years and use it as an opportunity to also celebrate how far she and David have come – in the hope that it marks a turning point for all of them."

You can read more celebrity news in this week's Closer magazine - out now!

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