Victoria Beckham was honoured with France’s prestigious Chevalière de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in Paris on Monday evening, expressing gratitude to her family, as the Beckham clan presented a united front amid their public rift with eldest son Brooklyn.
The 51-year-old fashion designer, known for her eponymous luxury label, received the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters distinction from French Culture Minister Rachida Dati in recognition of her significant contributions to the arts.
In an Instagram post following the ceremony, Victoria wrote: “I’m so honoured to be named a Chevaliere de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.
“Thank you also to business partners who believed in me, my family, and especially David.”
The Beckham’s first public appearance together since Brooklyn’s Instagram tirade last Monday
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She added: “I couldn’t be more grateful, you are my everything.”
The ceremony marked Sir David and Victoria’s first joint public appearance since Brooklyn unleashed his explosive Instagram tirade last Monday, declaring he wanted nothing more to do with his parents.
The former Manchester United star, 50, dressed in a grey suit and tie, emerged hand-in-hand with his wife from the five-star Hotel La Réserve.
Victoria wore a black evening gown, while their youngest child, Harper, 14, followed close behind, also dressed in black.
Brooklyn and Nicola have distanced themselves from the Beckhams in recent years | GETTYModel Romeo, 23, who had walked the catwalk at a Willy Chavarria show during Paris Fashion Week just days earlier, attended with his DJ girlfriend Kim Turnbull, 24.
Singer Cruz, 20, accompanied by his musician girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, 30, completed the family gathering, which notably excluded Brooklyn, 26, and his wife, Nicola Peltz, 31.
The award ceremony drew notable figures from the fashion world, with former Vogue editor Anna Wintour and model Helena Christensen among the guests in attendance.
Victoria expressed her deep appreciation for French culture in her acceptance speech, stating: “I have always deeply admired the French aesthetic and the seriousness with which it treats fashion: as a form of art.”
She continued: “So to be recognised here and embraced in this way, is a profound privilege – one that reflects decades of commitment and dedication.”
Brooklyn’s Instagram posts last week blew the family’s long-running feud wide open, with the 26-year-old aspiring chef declaring: “I do not want to reconcile with my family.”
Among his allegations, he claimed his parents had “controlled” him throughout his life and “have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship” with wife, Ms Peltz.
He also accused Victoria of dancing “inappropriately” on him during his wedding, stating he was “humiliated” by the incident.
DJ Fat Tony, who performed at the nuptials, corroborated the claim on This Morning, recalling that singer Marc Anthony called Victoria to the stage and described her as “the most beautiful woman in the room,” which reportedly left Peltz in tears.
Brooklyn further alleged his parents had “repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe” him into signing away rights to his name before the wedding.
David addressed the family turmoil at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, making a veiled reference to the situation by stating that “children make mistakes” on social media.
Victoria has not publicly responded to her son’s allegations, though sources told the Mail she feels “betrayed” after doing “everything she can to make them both feel welcome and love Nicola like another daughter.”
Brooklyn, Victoria and David Beckham prior to the family feud
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A source close to the family said: “The Beckhams are a close-knit family and this proves they aren’t the problem.”
The source added: “Romeo and Cruz’s girlfriends wanted to come and support Victoria and be there for the family. It says a lot that they are backing Posh and Becks while Nicola and Brooklyn are turning their backs.”
