reports of family drama threatened to overshadow the milestone. Known for his precision on and off the pitch, Sir David has spent decades carefully curating his family's public image.

This year is one of celebration for the former England captain - turning 50 at the helm of an estimated £500m empire. But for the past few weeks, much of the online interest around the Beckhams has focused on reports that eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz have fallen out with the rest of the family.

An expert in reputation management says reports of the feud have begun to affect the family's public image, noting press coverage of the Beckhams has taken on a more soap-opera-like tone. Celebrity crisis PR Lauren Beeching says recent media conversation has "started to feel more like something you'd see around a reality TV family".

Reports of a family fallout began three years ago as stories emerged claiming that Nicola had refused to wear one of Victoria Beckham's designs on her wedding day. Nicola later said she had wanted to, telling the Times Victoria had realised her atelier could not make it in time so she had had to pick a different designer. Nicola denied there was a feud in the family.

But scrutiny continued, with shows of unity (from warm social media posts to shared events) being framed as the Beckhams putting the feud behind them, or discouraging rumours of discord. Eventually, speculation seemed to die down. But reports of a rift returned last month after Brooklyn, 26, and Nicola, 30, were absent from David Beckham's 50th birthday celebrations and did not post a birthday message online.

A source told the BBC Brooklyn had chosen not to go to the party as his younger brother Romeo was attending with a woman Brooklyn had previously been linked to. The source added that this woman's invitation had been a "big source of further tension". Sir David and Lady Beckham have never acknowledged the rumoured rift, and have not responded to the BBC's requests for comment. (BBC/ Getty Images)