It wasn’t the route that we expected David Beckham to go down, but the former footballer seems to be relishing a new lease of life as a farmer.
However, as the 49 year old shares posts gushing about country life at their Cotswolds estate, Victoria, 50, is reportedly worried about their differing visions of the future – since she feels she is firmly a Londoner.
An insider tells heat, ‘David has always been in his element when he’s in the Cotswolds, which is ultimately where he’s at his most content. While Vic loves watching him immerse himself in his “Lord of the Manor” persona, it does make her worry that they’re on different trajectories and she’s concerned that it could eventually lead to them living separate lives.’
The source continues, ‘David’s made no secret about wanting to make a permanent move to the countryside for a quieter, more relaxed pace of life now the boys have all flown the nest, and it’s something he and Vic have spoken about a lot and seriously considered. Having grown up in east London, David’s ready to leave city life behind and settle permanently in the Cotswolds, whereas Vic grew up in Hertfordshire, so living in the heart of London still feels exciting, even after all these years. She’s not ready to give up her metropolitan lifestyle and can’t see herself wanting to for a long time yet. But, knowing how keen David is to make the move, she’s worried that they’re on completely different pages.’
As heat has previously reported, the pair have been considering a permanent move to their £12million country estate in Oxfordshire for a while now. David recently took his Instagram followers on a tour of their impressive grounds, sharing how he was about to make his own crisps from their homegrown potatoes, and collecting eggs from the chickens.
Posting online he wrote, ‘My kale is doing well. I can hear my East End mates going, “He has changed”. My wife said shorten the video down but obviously didn’t listen so I’m sorry... My content used to be motorbikes and camping now it’s kale, honey and flowers for the house. Might have to get back on the road soon.’ Tagging his wife, he then teased, Victoria, you’re welcome for the flowers for the house.
And while she employed her usual dry sense of humour in her reply, it was clear Victoria wasn’t quite on the same wavelength as her husband of 25 years. ‘Who is this man? Give me my husband back!’ she wrote – and it seems she wasn’t completely joking.
After 15 years of her eponymous fashion brand failing to turn a profit, Victoria – whose transition from pop star to fashion and beauty boss is set to be the subject of an upcoming Netflix documentary, following the success David’s Emmy winning effort Beckham – is finally thriving in the business world.
‘Vic is really committed to her life in London, which is where her head office and flagship store are both located,’ our source explains. ‘She loves her life there. She’s extremely hands-on with her fashion and beauty brand, and loves beingable to pop into the office for meetings and oversee everything that happens at HQ. She thrives on the buzz of being in the city – the events and swanky restaurants, not to mention all her trusted beauty salons and aestheticians being just a stone’s throw away. She’s worried she’d be lonely and bored spending all her time in the Cotswolds.’
Indeed, for her 50th celebrations back in April, Posh partied the night away with pals – including Eva Longoria, Gordon Ramsay and, of course, her fellow Spice Girls, Mel C, Mel B, Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell – at exclusive members’ club Oswald’s in Mayfair, and she regularly enjoys a meal out in the city too.
The couple’s youngest child, daughter Harper, 13 – who attends school in west London – is another a major reason for the couple hanging on to their £31million townhouse in boujee Holland Park.
Recently the three eldest Beckham children have all left home. Brooklyn, 25, and Cruz, 19, now spend the majority of their time in LA. Brooklyn lives there with his wife of two years Nicola Peltz, 29, and Cruz is trying to make it as pop-star. Second-eldest Romeo, 22, has also moved out of the family home into his own place.
But our insider says, VB feels there are major decisions that would have to be made about Harper’s education if they relocated to the Cotswolds full-time. She’s still in her early years of secondary school, but it’s a big consideration. We’re told Posh also feels that her daughter might enjoy spending her teenage years in the city, whereas David is more protective and likes the idea of her growing up in the country.
‘When Vic voiced her concerns to David, he insisted that he’s not expecting her to just give up her life in the city,’ says the source. ‘She can compromise by working remotely and going up to London maybe once or twice a week. He wants them to have the best of both worlds. Her friends and family have urged her to be honest about her concerns and perhaps come up with a timeline for David, showing when she would be ready, so at least he would know it will happen at some point. For now, she’s told him she’s willing to spend more time there – but, as far as she’s concerned, a permanent move is still a very long way off.’
As well as both the Cotswolds property, purchased back in 2016, and their London mansion – which has been the Beckham family’s base since 2013 – Victoria and David also own a £17million Miami penthouse. Much like their pad in America, Posh always assumed that the Cotswolds would be nothing more than a holiday base. But with David spending more time there now that three of their four children have all left home – as well as not needing to be in London as much for work – it seems Vic might have to suck it up and don her welly boots if she wants to enjoy more time with her husband.
And, our source says, that although VB knew that this was coming, she isn’t ready for such a big change. ‘As much as she wants to embrace this next stage of their life now that their kids are grown up, Vic fears she’d be miserable and would resent David for making her move – especially since she’d be giving up everything she loves about her life for him, which essentially is what she did for when he was playing football,’ we’re told.
The source continues, ‘But, ultimately, her marriage is her number-one priority and she wants to ensure that she and David stay on the same page, so she’s doing whatever it takes to show her commitment to that, while staying true to herself and her needs.