David Beckham was caught on camera tearing a parking ticket from the windscreen of his ultra-luxury Rolls Royce moments after an indulgent shopping stop at Rolex on London’s Bond Street, adding a flash of controversy to an already turbulent period for the Beckham family.
The former football icon, now 50, stepped out in the capital on Sunday alongside his fashion designer wife Victoria Beckham, 51, as the couple treated themselves to high-end retail therapy.
As Victoria walked around the vehicle to take her seat, David paused before opening the driver’s door, reached across the windscreen and ripped off a parking ticket that had been placed on the car while it was parked directly outside the store. The pair then climbed into the vehicle without hesitation and drove away, seemingly unfazed by the incident. A representative for David has since been contacted for comment.
The vehicle in question was a black badge Rolls Royce Cullinan, estimated to be worth around £600,000, underscoring the opulence of the couple’s outing.
Their London appearance came amid mounting tension within the Beckham family, as their eldest son Brooklyn Beckham was seen partying in West Hollywood on Saturday without his wife Nicola Peltz. This followed reports claiming Brooklyn "wants to reconcile" with his estranged family.
Brooklyn and Nicola have been central figures in a bitter family divide that has seen them skip major Beckham family milestones in recent months, including David Beckham’s 50th birthday celebrations. Despite this, it was revealed on Saturday that Brooklyn is hopeful about reconnecting with his parents in the future. However, a source told Katie Hind that it is Nicola who remains "obsessed" with prolonging the conflict.
Brooklyn was photographed heading out to dinner with friends at the Sunset Tower Hotel, while the fallout from the feud continues to ripple across his public image and online presence.
The ongoing rift has had measurable consequences on social media. Brooklyn, who earns income through cooking tutorials and the promotion of his hot sauce brand Cloud 23, still commands an impressive following of 16 million on Instagram. However, it is understood that distancing himself from his immediate family has cost him an average of 188 followers per day over the past month.
By contrast, David and Victoria’s social media numbers have surged. David, who already boasts 88.5 million followers, and Victoria, with 33.4 million, have reportedly gained an average of 2,633 followers daily. A source from Ace.com, which tracks daily social media statistics, explained the shift, saying, "Follower trends show where audience attention and engagement sit. The data points to a notable divergence in public sentiment."
The depth of the family divide was further highlighted by Brooklyn and Nicola’s decision to exclude David and Victoria, along with brothers Romeo and Cruz, from a 200-guest "second" wedding ceremony held last year at the Peltz family estate in Westchester County, New York. Also absent were Brooklyn’s 14-year-old sister Harper, his grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.
The emotional toll on Victoria Beckham has reportedly been severe. A source said, "Victoria’s heart is breaking behind closed doors. Brooklyn is her firstborn and she’s worried she’s never going to get him back. Seeing him and Nicola renew their vows without her and David was tough. They have missed out on some big family moments already and Victoria is afraid that the longer this goes on, the less chance there is of it being resolved."
Relations reportedly deteriorated so badly last summer that Brooklyn requested communication with his parents be conducted solely through lawyers. One source revealed, "David was told to speak to them via Schillings.That was the only way for them to communicate."
It is understood that Brooklyn does not want direct contact from his parents or public references to him on social media. While no legal action followed and the request had no formal legal standing, it marked a striking breakdown in family relations. Brooklyn does, however, remain in regular contact with both sets of grandparents.
Despite the turmoil, Brooklyn and Nicola appeared united online. On Saturday, Brooklyn shared a photo on Instagram showing Nicola sitting on his lap as they kissed in front of the Los Angeles skyline. He captioned the image, "My girl x." Brooklyn wore a black T-shirt, knee-length shorts and brown sandals, while Nicola opted for a white woolly jacket, blue skinny jeans and sunglasses.
Additional photos shared earlier in the week showed the couple posing with Nicola’s older brother Bradley, 36. Later that evening, Nicola posted a separate image of herself enjoying a quiet night in, wearing a face mask and grey tracksuit, as the Beckham family saga continues to unfold both on and off social media.