The pop princess and the heartthrob — a story so often heard, but one that not so often lasts the test of time. The pressures of fame will challenge even the strongest of romances, and those that survive can only be described as a great love story . . .
It was 1996, and Victoria Beckham was at the height of her fame in the pop-girl group, the Spice Girls [p.s. then & now]. Aptly known as Posh Spice, she would have had a million want-to-be suitors the world over, but none had taken her fancy . . . yet. Although, one day, while flicking through a photo book of up and coming sports stars, Posh paused on a photo of David Beckham and jokingly stated to her friends that she wouldn’t mind asking him out on a date. Quite conveniently, at this time, Posh’s band mate Mel C (a.k.a. Sporty Spice) was dating David’s teammate Ryan Giggs, and Victoria began accompanying her to games.
One evening, following a Manchester United game against Sheffield, Victoria met up with David in the players bar — the poor footballer was so nervous, the pop star did all she could to break the ice. Whatever she did though, it worked — David was instantly smitten with her.
“As soon as she smiled, I knew everything was going to be okay.”
–David Beckham
It was early 1997 and the pair were enjoying the anonymity of their newly budding relationship. A number of low-key dates ensured their romance could remain private as they learned all the wonderful personal details of one another, and ultimately, fell in love.
“For the first three months it was amazing because no one found out about us being together, we loved that because we could sneak around. Our first kiss was in the car park of a restaurant. We used to drive to places and just spend as much time together as possible. That was an amazing time in our relationship.“
–David Beckham
Above, celebrating David’s birthday, May 2005
Although, as they knew it always would, their relationship was eventually made public, and their fans were ecstatic! After numerous public appearances, a trend became apparent — the pair had an adorable penchant for matching outfits.
Above, some thirteen years later, David, with 7-month-old daughter Harper in New York, February 2012Their relationship only thrived after becoming ‘public’, and following a year of dating, on the 25th of January 1998, David knelt down on one knee with a 3-carat marquise-cut diamond ring, and proposed to the love of his life.
“What’s David’s role? David looks good, that’s what David does. David looks good, and I’m the funny one, that’s what I hear constantly. But I keep telling him that looks fade.“
–Victoria Beckham
Above, attending the wedding of Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes, Italy 2006
Above, left & right, backstage on the Spice World reunion tour, December 2007Later that year [1998], while on tour with the Spice Girls, Victoria discovered she was pregnant. The couple were over the moon with the wonderfully exciting news, and in March of the following year, David & Victoria, or Posh & Becks, as they would affectionately become known, welcomed baby Brooklyn into the world.
Pop magazine, 2004Four months later, the blissfully happy couple became husband & wife, in an extravagant wedding ceremony at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland, with baby Brooklyn as the (hopelessly adorable) ring bearer.
Above, front row at Roland Mouret with Dita Von Teese and Claudia Schiffer, Paris January 2008
November 17, 2006, Rome, Italy, arrival at Rome’s Ciampino airport to attend the wedding of Tom & Katie
In the years following, Posh, Becks, & their growing family made moves to Spain and the US, as David’s career took them; and as with all relationships in the spotlight, the media scrutinized every detail of their lives constantly. But never caving to the rumours and gossip, the pair remained strong, steadfast, and most importantly, very much in love, always providing a united front to the world in interviews, photo shoots and their numerous public appearances.
Above, with daughter Harper
Over their now 13 year marriage, the careers of both Posh & Becks have taken them in vastly different directions, but their support and devotion to one another has been splendidly inspirational — the public has seen nothing but their absolute fondness and love for the other.
Above, Victoria Beckham in Pop magazine, 2004“She comes home and shows me what she’s been doing all day and what exciting dresses and bags she’s got coming through. And then I say something boring like ‘I got kicked today.’ But we listen to each other,” he explains. “We try to go out at least once a week, just the two of us, a quiet dinner somewhere. It’s not about wearing a nice dress or a nice suit. It’s just going out and chatting and having some time together.”
Above, the Beckham boys, left to right, Cruz, Romeo, and Brooklyn
Above, the entire family, including daughter, Harper“Not only has she given me three amazing boys but she’s truly an inspiration for me every day.”
–David Beckham (before the birth of daughter, Harper, below)
A great love story, of course, has many different faces, but always has a lesson that can be taken from it, a lesson in love.
“We are still so close, David and I. We were at a party the other day at my mum’s house and I was sitting on his lap. We’re very affectionate. And I looked at him and thought after being married for 11 years! We were the only couple who were even near each other at that party. We’re soul mates.”
–Victoria Beckham
This great romance proves there may just be ‘love at first sight’, and fate & soul mates, and even more so, that love really can conquer all. Each and every day, no matter what the challenge, let love inspire perseverance and dedication, and no challenge will ever be too troublesome, if you face it together.
— Joey
previously
* great love stories № 01 : grace kelly & prince rainer III of monaco
* great love stories № 02 : nacho figueras & delfina blaquier
* great love stories № 03 : shah jahan & mumtaz mahal
* great love stories № 04 : elizabeth taylor & richard burton
* great love stories № 05 : prince william & kate middleton
* great love stories № 06 : audrey hepburn & robert wolders
* great love stories № 07 : napoleon bonaparte & maria walewska
* great love stories № 08 : john f. kennedy jr. & carolyn bessette
* great love stories № 09 : paul newman & joanne woodward
* great love stories № 10 : ricky & ralph lauren
* great love stories № 11 : frank sinatra & ava gardner
* great love stories № 12 : diana & reed vreeland
* great love stories № 13 : humphrey bogart & lauren bacall
image sources & credits : from the book, that extra half inch by victoria beckham, 2006, via /// splog rush /// nell livingston /// out in london, may 2006, via /// collage, one / two / three / four /// from the book, that extra half inch by victoria beckham, 2006, via /// victoria beckham style /// fyvb /// from the book, that extra half inch by victoria beckham, 2006, via /// cupcakes, books, & fashion /// christel sørvoll /// at tom & katie’s wedding /// backstage, one / two /// pop magazine 2004 /// front row /// friskytuna /// db facebook /// top news /// collage, one / two / three / four / five /// from the book, that extra half inch by victoria beckham, 2006, via /// fanpop /// harper-beckham /// grazia /// harper-beckham /// girls talkin smack /// fyvb /// db google+ /// fyvb /// fyvb /// home archive /// from the book, that extra half inch by victoria beckham, 2006, via]
