In Tom Bower's latest book, The House of Beckham: Money, Sex and Power, serialised by the Mirror over the weekend, the focus is on David and Victoria Beckham's enduring marriage, offering jaw-dropping claims about their relationship.
From why David's former PA Rebecca Loos went public with her affair claims to the time Posh and Becks slugged it out in a media war and supposedly leaked negative stories about each other, Bower's book probably won't be taking pride of place on the Beckham family bookshelf.
The juicy title also makes explosive claims about Posh and Becks' relationship with the Royal family, particularly their deteriorating bond with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle. Here are the biggest bombshells from The House of Beckham.
Why Rebecca Loos sold her story
The recent Netflix documentary about the Beckhams, produced by David's team, was dominated by an allegation that shook their relationship to its core. Rebecca Loos' public claims of an affair with David in 2004 led Victoria to describe the aftermath as the "hardest period" for both of them.
Now, 24 years on from first claiming she had an affair with the former England captain, Rebecca has been thrust back into the spotlight. In The House of Beckham, it's claimed Rebecca, who now lives a quiet life in Norway with her husband and their sons, decided to break her silence about her alleged affair with the former England captain after being disgusted by David's behaviour towards a waitress.
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Bower's book suggests this seemingly minor incident was the catalyst for the biggest challenge in the Beckham's nearly 25-year-long marriage. He writes: "The turning-point for Loos was realising Beckham's double standards. After a meal for SFX employees at Madrid's Hard Rock Cafe, Beckham did not leave a tip."
David Beckham's move to Spain put a strain on his marriage to Victoria Beckham (Getty Images)
Rebecca Loos claims she had an affair with Becks during his Real Madrid era (Press Association)The following day, the waitress handed Loos a note for Beckham, expressing her outrage that someone so famous and wealthy could be so tight-fisted. She explained that she depended on tips to make ends meet. Bowers writes that David was taken aback after reading the note and handed over a hefty amount of euros, saying, "'Give her this". He adds: "Reflecting in February about how Beckham had played her and lied to her, Loos was angry."
Mulling over how her boss David had deceived and lied to her, Rebecca was livid. After being let go by Beckham's agency SFX, Rebecca sold her story to the now defunct News of the World newspaper, alleging an affair behind Posh Spice's back with the the Real Madrid footballer.
Furious Posh slapped Becks
In the days that followed Rebecca's story dominating headlines across the world, the Beckham's PR team orchestrated an image of unity at the snowy Courchevel ski resort to safeguard Brand Beckham's image. "In a bravura performance the couple clung to each other she with an iron grip on his hand. Then they performed a piggy-back and smiled," notes Bower in his book.
However, their closed-door affairs weren't as picture-perfect. "Once the show was over they disappeared into their chalet....as everyone drifted off, one journalist looked through the Beckhams' chalet window. Posh was slapping Beckham hard on his face. Beckham, famous for his 'short fuse', did not retaliate."
Victoria's transition to Spain wasn't comfortable, making her life there quite disagreeable. "Her life in Madrid was lonely and unhappy. Although she had everything money could buy she was isolated. With few friends, she was unwilling to learn Spanish. Her diet, rigorous exercise and chain-smoking reflected her anxieties."
Disastrous Vogue shoot
Victoria and David Beckham were reportedly battling to keep their marriage afloat years after the Rebecca Loos scandal, according to The House of Beckham. Despite overcoming that hurdle, the Beckhams faced renewed gossip about their relationship 14 years after Rebecca's bombshell.
Amidst wild speculation of an impending divorce, Victoria and her PR mastermind opted for a bold Vogue interview and photoshoot to quash the whispers. "That would be an ideal platform to crush rumours of a split," Bower writes, adding: "The interview would be accompanied with photographs of the Happy Beckham Family. David returned specially to London for the photoshoot....the entire Beckham family was to be photographed sitting as a harmonious group in a wooden rowing boat on a pond, which was to be shot as if it were a lake.
"But soon there was tension over whether David would appear in the shoot, with the footballer's publicist adamant that he would not take part. Not mentioned was Beckham's new opinion that his children should not be exploited for the brand," Bower claims. "Unspoken was his apparent fury with Victoria's endless self-promotion campaigns."
Victoria's kids at one of her fashion shows, alongside Vogue editors Edward Enninful and Anna Wintour (WireImage for Victoria Beckham)He added: "The wrangling was followed by an outburst between Beckham and Victoria. Beckham relented. Finally, the family was shuffled on to the boat." But what ensued could only be described as farcical. "Unexpectedly, once the six were afloat, Beckham insisted that his cocker spaniel Olive should feature in the shot too. The dog had 71,000 Instagram followers. Gingerly, the boat was pushed from the shore. Suddenly, Olive jumped into the water.
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"Beckham was about to follow and rescue his pet. Screaming 'No', worried that his clothes would get soaked, several assistants plunged into the water to grab the dog. Victoria's face turned to thunder. Another argument blew up. A sulk descended. Plans for the family photo were ditched."
He goes on: "Victoria posed only with the children and the spaniel. In the aftermath, Beckham and Victoria posed as a twosome, separate and looking rather severe. But they were, as ever, consummate actors. No one looking at the perfect images could have imagined the dramas over the proceedings. The cover photograph would be of Victoria, and only with her four children."
Posh's Glasto scavenger hunt
David Beckham's 2017 Glastonbury adventure didn't quite pan out as expected, thanks to an unexpected appearance by his wife Victoria at Worthy Farm. While the couple admitted to being "against each other" in David's Netflix series last year, they only briefly discussed their struggle to save their marriage in the early 00s when David was accused of having an affair with his former PA Rebecca Loos.
However, The House of Beckham suggests that the couple faced additional challenges years later - with the parents-of-four even engaging in a media battle through rival PR managers. Another low point for the Beckhams, as mentioned in the book, occurred in 2017 when Victoria gate-crashed David's Glastonbury fun. Initially, David and a small group of friends, including his best mate Dave Gardner, attended the renowned British festival without Victoria, who was due to arrive later from New York.
The night before Victoria's arrival, the group - which included married Lady Mary Charteris and a "glamorous Australian bikini model" - partied until 5am. The celebrations resumed at lunchtime the next day, only to be interrupted by a phone call announcing Victoria's arrival.
"There was no hassle and a great mood until she landed,' moaned one of the group," Bower pens in The House of Beckham. "With her entourage, she zoomed off in a golf buggy through the scruffy campers to the VIP zone. She was livid that her husband hadn't responded to her phone calls and had sent out a search party. Eventually, David showed up. Within seconds, they were caught up in a heated argument.... 'They looked quite miserable,' observed one onlooker, 'but they managed to pose for the cameras'."
Swipe at 'desperate' Geri Halliwell
Victoria reportedly "couldn't stand" her former Spice Girls bandmate, Geri Horner, according to investigative journalist Tom Bower's new book, The House of Beckham: Money, Sex and Power. Bower's book reveals that during the height of the Spice Girls' fame, while everyone loved David Beckham, "Victoria was different". He quotes her as saying: "'I can't stand Geri,' she said about her former best friend. 'She is one of the most disloyal people I've ever known'."
The book also alleges that Victoria ridiculed Geri for dating DJ Chris Evans in 1999. According to Bower, Victoria said: "Twisting the knife, she even scoffed at Geri for going out with DJ Chris Evans. 'She'll do anything to get publicity. Geri doesn't care what she does as long as she gets in the paper'."
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's snub
In addition to looking back on Victoria's Spice Girls feud, The House of Beckham also examines Posh and Becks' relationship with the Royal family, particularly their strained bond with Harry and Meghan Markle. The former England captain, 49, and Posh Spice, 50, attended both William's 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton and Harry and Meghan's nuptials in 2018. But according to journalist Bower, David's friendship with both brothers didn't sit well with Meghan.
Bower writes that ahead of their wedding, Meghan and Harry were irritated by David's close bond with William, which had blossomed during the UK's World Cup bid in 2010. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, already feeling insecure about their perceived lower status and wealth compared to the Cambridges, reportedly found Becks' camaraderie with William annoying.
"Meghan appeared to want to punish the Beckhams," Bower claims, adding: "Television pictures of the couple arriving at St George's Chapel for the wedding showed Victoria stony-faced and David chewing gum. Meghan had not invited them to the wedding dinner. Her veto was an insult."
He remarks: "After all, many guests such as George Clooney and other Hollywood stars invited that evening did not even know Meghan. Victoria's sour expression also reflected her anger about David's behaviour at a Soho House party the previous night. He had been buying drinks for a brunette while Victoria sat silently thunderous nearby. Worse still, that very morning the woman had posted photos of herself and Beckham on the web."
The Mirror has previously contacted representatives for the Beckhams and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.
THE HOUSE OF BECKHAM: MONEY, SEX AND POWER by Tom Bower, to be published by HarperCollins on 20th June 2024 at £22. Copyright © Tom Bower 2024.
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