DAVID BECKHAM’S golden football boots worn in his 100th England game are to be sold for an estimated £10,000.

The Adidas 2008 Predators were used by Becks in a match against France on March 26, 2008.

1David Beckham’s golden boots are set to be sold for £10,000Credit: Getty

England were beaten 1-0 and Beckham even received a yellow card in the 39th minute.

The likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Wayne Rooney all starred for the Three Lions on the night.

Meanwhile, Franck Ribery, Nicolas Anelka, William Gallas and Claude Makelele featured for France.

The boots were produced especially for Beckham and feature embroidered St George’s Crosses, along with the Manchester United icon’s profile on the left shoe.

The names of Beckham’s then-three children Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, are also embroidered on the design.

The pair are expected to be sold on December 5 as part of a wider sporting goods auction by Northamptonshire-based auctioneers Graham Budd Auctions.

With a starting bid of £4,600, David Convery, head of sporting memorabilia, estimates that the boots could go for as much as £8,000-10,000.

He said: “David Beckham is not only an iconic player, but you could also argue that he started the ‘style revolution’ with this type of golden boot.

“These boots are already attracting attention on a global stage and we wouldn’t be surprised if they reached or even went beyond their estimated price.”

The boots, or lot 924, will be sold as the first item up for grabs on December 5 at the auctioneers’ site in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, at 13:30.

After adding one of the greatest soccer players in history to his franchise, David Beckham made sure to savor the moment when Lionel Messi walked through Inter Miami’s doors for the very first time over the summer.

In fact, the Inter co-owner was so enthused by the thought of Messi entering the building that he arrived at training himself every day at 7am to watch him do exactly that in the initial weeks after his arrival.

‘Firstly, I wanted to be in before Leo to show him I was there and the commitment I have to the team and the club,’ Beckham said in an interview with The Times. ‘But it was also important for me to enjoy this moment after all the hard work.

 

David Beckham arrived at Inter Miami training at 7am every day after signing Lionel Messi

‘I wanted to see him come in, see him go about everything he does so professionally, setting an example to all the young kids here.

‘He is a superstar, but the most humble superstar. And I just love to watch him train.

Beckham lured Messi to Miami over the summer in one of the biggest MLS signings of all time

The Inter co-owner says he wanted to be in the building early every day to watch him ‘go about everything he does’

Beckham also described Messi as a ‘superstar, but the most humble superstar’ off the field

‘Anyone who has seen him live knows he’s different, special. People said he might need time to fit in. It took him seconds.’

Messi mania well and truly captivated US soccer when the Barcelona and Argentina legend rocked up back in July, with reports suggesting the demand for his Miami jerseys were so high that even Beckham himself was made to wait for one to gift to friends.

And the 36-year-old instantly justified the obvious hype, scoring 10 goals in his first seven appearances – including a stoppage-time winner on his debut – to help secure Miami’s first ever piece of silverware in the Leagues Cup.

He was absent for their US Open Cup final defeat by Houston Dynamo, and his first season came to a premature end when Tata Martino’s men failed to reach the MLS playoffs, but Beckham is still pinching himself at the fact Messi is simply an Inter player.

‘I promised the fans and people of Miami that I wanted to bring some of the best players in the world,’ the former Man United and Real Madrid star, who recently presented Messi with his eighth Balon d’Or award, added. ‘I am sure every owner says that but, from day one, he was the dream player I wanted to bring to Miami.

‘I see him in our kit, I watch him train and play, and I can’t believe that we have Lionel Messi in our club.’

Beckham also spoke of his pride at personally deciding that Miami would play in pink – despite being warned against it.

He is still pinching himself at the fact Messi now works his magic in Miami’s famous pink strip

Beckham also personally presented Messi with his eighth Ballon d’Or award last month

With Messi now on the team, the jersey has become one of the most in-demand across the globe.

But years ago, when Beckham was planning for what he wanted Inter Miami to be  – and the idea of Messi in Major League Soccer was a wild dream – he decided that his club would play in pink.

He said: ‘Drive around Miami and it’s a very recurring color. At the time a lot of people were saying “don’t go for pink”.

‘I was the one who said it has to be the main color. So that was me. I’m actually very proud of it. I am glad I held my nerve and pushed it through.’

Soccer legend David Beckham is just like Us — listening to Mariah Carey’s holiday hits as soon as December rolls around.

“@davidbeckham giving us his best @mariahcarey 🎶 🎄😂,” Victoria Beckham, who married the 47-year-old athlete in 1999, captioned a Thursday, December 1, Instagram video. In the clip, David sat at the kitchen counter as he drank a cup of coffee and scrolled on his smartphone. While the England native multitasked, Victoria, 48, caught him singing along to Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

The New York native, 52, was equally impressed by David’s vocal chops. “My new fave rendition 😂 love you guys! ❤️🎄❤️🎄,” she wrote via Instagram comment. Carey also shared the footage via her Instagram Story, adding a “love this” caption.

The Christmas Princess scribe was not the Beckhams’ only famous friend who was pleasantly surprised by David’s singing voice.

“What can’t he do?” fashion maven Derek Blasberg replied, while Kelly Rowland added: “SINGGGGGGG DAVID!!!!!!”

Carey’s name has long been synonymous with the festive holiday ever since the October 1994 release of her single “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

“I know a lot of the time people are like, ‘Oh, yay! Look at her! She’s, like, so festive and such a Christmas girl,’ or whatever. But, really, Christmas makes me happy. People think I had this princess-style life or whatever, a kind of fairy-tale existence where I just emerged, like, ‘Here I am!’ And that is not what it is,” Carey told W magazine last month on how she came to love the merry occasion.

She continued at the time: “But when you grow up with a messed-up life and then you’re able to have this transformation where you can make your life what you want it to be? That is joy for me. That’s why I want my kids [twins Morrocan and Monroe, who I share with ex-husband Nick Cannon] to have everything they can have. I want them to be able to understand that they can be anything they want to be.”

David and the former Spice Girls singer — who share four children — are equally fond of the festive season.

“[Our celebrations are] like every other person’s Christmas — it will be very normal,” the Save Our Squad with David Beckham personality previously opened up about their holiday plans during a December 2015 appearance on BBC Breakfast. “We open presents, we enjoy ourselves, we have a traditional Christmas dinner. So we’re exactly the same. … We always spend Christmas in London because it’s home and all our family are here, so we’re very traditional.”

David and Victoria frequently share their merry traditions via social media as they dote over sons Brooklyn, 23, Romeo, 20, and Cruz, 17, and daughter Harper, 11.

“Merry Christmas everybody! Sending lots of love from us all x family time is so precious,” the fashion designer wrote via Instagram in December 2020, sharing a snap of her brood wearing matching silk pajamas.

‘I wanted to see him come in, see him go about everything he does so professionally, setting an example to all the young kids here.

‘He is a superstar, but the most humble superstar. And I just love to watch him train.

David Beckham arrived at Inter Miami training at 7am every day after signing Lionel Messi

Beckham lured Messi to Miami over the summer in one of the biggest MLS signings of all time

The Inter co-owner says he wanted to be in the building early every day to watch him ‘go about everything he does’

Beckham also described Messi as a ‘superstar, but the most humble superstar’ off the field

‘Anyone who has seen him live knows he’s different, special. People said he might need time to fit in. It took him seconds.’

Messi mania well and truly captivated US soccer when the Barcelona and Argentina legend rocked up back in July, with reports suggesting the demand for his Miami jerseys were so high that even Beckham himself was made to wait for one to gift to friends.

And the 36-year-old instantly justified the obvious hype, scoring 10 goals in his first seven appearances – including a stoppage-time winner on his debut – to help secure Miami’s first ever piece of silverware in the Leagues Cup.

He was absent for their US Open Cup final defeat by Houston Dynamo, and his first season came to a premature end when Tata Martino’s men failed to reach the MLS playoffs, but Beckham is still pinching himself at the fact Messi is simply an Inter player.

‘I promised the fans and people of Miami that I wanted to bring some of the best players in the world,’ the former Man United and Real Madrid star, who recently presented Messi with his eighth Balon d’Or award, added. ‘I am sure every owner says that but, from day one, he was the dream player I wanted to bring to Miami.

‘I see him in our kit, I watch him train and play, and I can’t believe that we have Lionel Messi in our club.’

Beckham also spoke of his pride at personally deciding that Miami would play in pink – despite being warned against it.

He is still pinching himself at the fact Messi now works his magic in Miami’s famous pink strip

Beckham also personally presented Messi with his eighth Ballon d’Or award last month

With Messi now on the team, the jersey has become one of the most in-demand across the globe.

But years ago, when Beckham was planning for what he wanted Inter Miami to be  – and the idea of Messi in Major League Soccer was a wild dream – he decided that his club would play in pink.

He said: ‘Drive around Miami and it’s a very recurring color. At the time a lot of people were saying “don’t go for pink”.

‘I was the one who said it has to be the main color. So that was me. I’m actually very proud of it. I am glad I held my nerve and pushed it through.’

The Inter Miami FC co-owner officially welcomed the Argentine legend to his team in July this year

David Beckham hugs Lionel Messi. PHOTO:

TIM NWACHUKWU/GETTY IMAGES

David Beckham, 48, managed to bring one of the biggest international athletes stateside, and the magnitude of that feat is hardly lost on him.

In July, the former soccer player and co-owner of Inter Miami FC officially welcomed Lionel Messi, 36, to the South Florida-based soccer club, and he’s been on cloud nine since. Of course, getting a player of Messi’s caliber to sign didn’t come easy, as the Argentine soccer legend was in high demand.

“We always knew there would be competition,” Beckham told The Times of London. “The time I got a bit worried was when Barcelona showed interest. The club obviously pulls on his heartstrings and he never really got to say the goodbye he deserved there,” he said of Messi, who played for Barça for 17 seasons.

‘Emotional’ David Beckham Welcomes Lionel Messi to His Inter Miami FC Team: ‘Truly a Dream’

However, the stiff competition didn’t dissuade Beckham, who managed to snag the soccer superstar for just over $20.4 million, per CBS News. “It still gives me goosebumps,” he told The Times of London of the moment he found out Messi would be coming to Inter Miami.

David Beckham with Lionel Messi.

Though soccer (known elsewhere as football) is massively popular globally, it’s only recently rose to prominence in the U.S. Beckham and Thierry Henry are some of the noted international players who have signed to Major League Soccer teams in an effort to bring more visibility to U.S.-based teams. So, onboarding a player as prolific as Messi was also a strategic move for the Inter Miami owner.

“I said, ‘How many elite athletes have had the opportunity to change a sport in a country?’ It is transformational for the sport in the United States,” Beckham told The Times of his initial pitch. “This is just the beginning. His presence, medium to long-term, will prove that this league belongs among the world’s best leagues over time.”

This is hardly the first time Beckham has been open about his reverence for Messi.

David Beckham Praises Lionel Messi in Trailer for New Messi Meets America Docuseries — Watch!

In July, when the superstar officially joined the Inter Miami team, Beckham introduced Messi to a sold-out crowd at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — and called Messi’s arrival a “dream come true.”

Lionel Messi with Inter Miami FC owners.

“Ten years ago, I started my journey to build a new MLS team,” Beckham said, per ESPN. “I said then, I dreamt of bringing the best players in the world to South Florida and to the great city of Miami. Players who shared our ambition to grow soccer in this country … We are so happy that you are all here to celebrate this incredible moment.”

He continued, “So please forgive me for feeling a little bit emotional tonight. It truly is a dream come true to welcome Lionel Messi to Inter Miami … Bienvenido a La Familia.”

Beckham was also seen singing the soccer player’s praises in the trailer for Messi Meets America — an Apple TV+ docu-series that gives an “inside look” at the latest chapter of Messi’s life and career. “This is one of the greatest players in the world,” Beckhman states.

David Beckham has been spotted strolling around his new $77million mega-mansion in Miami just days after purchasing the exclusive waterfront enclave.

The football legend was all smiles as he inspected the impressive nine-bedroom property in Miami Beach, Florida, which he acquired with his wife Victoria.

The 49-year-old was seen greeting friends atop a glamorous white balcony on Sunday and was unable to contain his excitement over the extravagant purchase.

He stopped to take in the views of the surrounding neighbourhood before heading back inside the house, which also boasts 13 bathrooms, an outdoor kitchen, a rooftop lounge and 124ft of frontage on Biscayne Bay.

Beckham was seen earlier in the day driving into the gated property in his McLaren 750S which sells new for at least $311,000 (£240,000).

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David Beckham has been spotted strolling around his new $77million mega-mansion in Miami just days after purchasing the exclusive waterfront enclave

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The football legend was all smiles as he inspected the impressive nine-bedroom property in Miami Beach, Florida

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The 49-year-old was seen greeting friends atop a glamorous white balcony on Sunday and was unable to contain his excitement over the extravagant purchase

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David Beckham is seen with a huge grin on his face as he inspects his new mansion

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Beckham was visibly excited as he toured the newly-purchased mansion in Miami Beach

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Beckham was seen speaking to a group of men on the balcony as he visited the mansion on Sunday

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He stopped to take in the views of the surrounding neighbourhood

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He then made his way back down the stairs of the balcony into the house

Beckham wore a pink Inter Miami hat, white T-shirt, black trousers and pink Adidas ‘Originals x Lionel Messi Samba’ trainers – named after the Miami player.

Pop star Shakira and Bee Gee Barry Gibb will be among the Beckhams’ neighbors at the home, where they also have a waterfront deck and mooring for a yacht.

Earlier this month a local property source claimed that the Beckhams’ offer on the property had been accepted, and they plan to move in early next year.

The Beckhams have had a base in Florida for years, and also spent about £18million on a full-floor five-bedroom penthouse in downtown Miami in 2020.

The couple already have a property portfolio which includes a £31million townhouse in London’s Holland Park and a £12million Cotswolds country pile.

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David Beckham smiles as he arrives to view his newly purchased $77million Miami mansion

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The Miami property includes a chef’s kitchen, private cinema, gym, spa and swimming pool

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Beckham is photographed smiling for the cameras after driving into the gated property

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Beckham arrives at the home in his McLaren 750S which sells new for upwards of $311,000

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The football legend has splashed out with his wife Victoria on the nine-bedroom property

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Beckham is spotted arriving to inspect his newly-purchased home in a McLaren supercar

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Beckham appears relaxed as he walks into the home with 124ft of frontage on Biscayne Bay

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Pop star Shakira and Bee Gee Barry Gibb will be among the Beckhams’ neighbors at the home

Victoria and David Beckham celebrate Easter in Miami with family

Long-time celebrity columnist Jose Lambiet told the Mail earlier this month: ‘I don’t think people necessarily remember that David Beckham was a football player.

‘They now think of him as a society guy, and the ownership of the soccer team has made him a stalwart in South Florida.

‘Miami is a place where he and Victoria can be comfortable because people are used to famous faces here – there are hundreds of celebrities.’

It is understood that the whole Beckham family had already been to see the property before the latest visit by Beckham, with a source saying that ‘everyone loves it’.

They added: ‘Although it’s David who has the work connection in Miami, the impression from the estate agents is that Victoria has been pushing for the move.

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Beckham wears Adidas ‘Originals x Lionel Messi Samba’ trainers, named after the Miami player

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Beckham is pictured wearing a pink Inter Miami hat, white T-shirt and black trousers

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Beckham drives his McLaren 750S into the Miami property which has sold for $78 million

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The Beckhams have had a base in Florida for years, but have now bought the new mansion

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Beckham arrives at the home in his McLaren 750S

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A local property source claimed that the Beckhams’ offer on the property has been accepted

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The new house adds to the Beckhams’ property portfolio which also features homes in the UK

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An aerial view of the Beckhams’ new £60million mega-mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay

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Aerial images of the Beckhams’ new property in Miami offer a glimpse of the stunning views

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The Beckhams spent $23million on a penthouse in this building in downtown Miami in 2020

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The Beckhams already have a £31million townhouse in exclusive Holland Park in West London

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David and Victoria Beckham also have a £12million Cotswolds country pile in their portfolio

Victoria Beckham celebrates Miami team’s big win on the pitch

‘What we hear is she wants to have a sort of salon there where she can gather interesting famous and wealthy people. It’s going to be a social scene but the idea is she can turbo-charge her fashion and make-up brands by juicing those links.

‘It seems she wants to be the Queen of Miami and to lean into all the celebrity links which come from the football club.’

Former England captain Beckham exercised an option in his contract with his former Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy to buy an expansion franchise in 2014.

He launched the team in Miami in 2018, before confirming it would be called Club Internacional de Futbol Miami, or Inter Miami CF. It made its MLS debut in 2020.

The former Manchester United midfielder finished his playing career in 2013 with 718 appearances, 127 goals and 214 assists. He played 115 times for England.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s purchase of a home in Portugal is ‘extremely significant’ because it gives them a ‘base near Britain’ and could lead to faux royal tours of European countries, a royal expert has claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were evicted from their cottage in Windsor by King Charles last year, have ensured that they retain a foothold on this side of the Atlantic by buying a home in Alentejo, the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden reported.

They are not the only royals who have a Portuguese property, with the Prince’s cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, owning a home in Melides, south of Lisbon.

Their decision to purchase a home near Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson‘s daughter highlights the two cousins’ close bond and ‘means we may see a good deal of Harry, Meghan and their family’, according to commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Mr Fitzwilliams said ‘it emphasises that they still have goodwill’ in The Firm and ‘makes clear that they are connected closely to part of the Royal Family and it will be interesting to see how they intend to develop this.’

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pose for a photo at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as they visit Nigeria

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Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank also own a portuguese property – located in the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club. The couple are pictured with their two children

Commenting on the couple’s reported Portuguese purchase, Mr Fitzwilliams said: ‘This is a surprise and is extremely significant. We have known that Harry and Meghan and Eugenie and her husband Jack have been close for years.

‘They moved into Frogmore Cottage when the Sussexes vacated it and have reportedly seen each other in California and in Portugal, where Jack works.

‘This proves they are close and it also gives the Sussexes a base in the EU with the possibility of acquiring the Golden Visa which would give them free access to the EU’s Schengen area. This also gives them a base near Britain.

‘It makes clear that they are connected closely to part of the royal family and it will be interesting to see how they intend to develop this.’

The expert continued: ‘Will it, for example, lead to more solo or perhaps even joint visits to Britain, but without participating in royal life or royal rituals at Sandringham and Balmoral?

‘It might lead to a “faux royal” tour of an EU country following their trips to Nigeria and Colombia.

‘It will certainly involve their children and we may see photos of Archie and Lili, in the future, possibly the distant future, we may well see them with Eugenie and Jack and their family. This move obviously advertises that the couples are close.

‘Now we know that Harry and Meghan have a base in Europe, their exile in California is far less distant.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend day 1 of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 19, 2018

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Their decision to purchase a home near Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson ‘s daughter highlights the two cousins’ close bond and ‘means we may see a good deal of Harry, Meghan and their family’, according to commentator Richard Fitzwilliams

‘The purchase of a home in Portugal means we may see a good deal of Harry, Meghan and their family. It emphasises that they still have goodwill in the royal family. It will be fascinating to see what their plan is in the coming months.’

Eugenie and Jack own a home in the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club, a luxury development of 300 properties by the sea in Melides.

Mr Brooksbank, 38, works in marketing and sales for CostaTerra. He, Eugenie, 34, and their two sons, August, three, and Ernest, 16 months, split their time between Portugal and London.

The Sussexes are known to be close to Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank, and the princess was the only member of the royal family to feature in the couple’s Netflix documentary.

What would YOU prefer?

Frogmore Cottage

Portugal Holiday Home

In one sweet snap shared in the second episode, Harry and Eugenie enjoy a bike ride along a palm tree-lined stretch of pavement in California – after she became the first member of The Firm to publicly visit the Duke in the States.

The programme also featured previously unseen photographs of Harry and his wife Meghan partying with Eugenie and Jack on Halloween.

Meghan previously revealed on the Ellen DeGeneres show how she and the Duke hit the town incognito in Halloween costumes with his cousin and her partner for a final night out before their relationship was revealed.

‘He came to see me in Toronto and our friends and his cousin Eugenie and now her husband Jack, they came as well, and the four of us snuck out in Halloween costumes to just have one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple,’ she recalled.

‘It was a post-apocalypse theme, so we had all this very bizarre costuming on, and we were able to just have one fun final night out.’

In 2021, Eugenie shared a 40th birthday message to ‘dear Meghan’ and revealed she was supporting the Duchess’ new 40×40 campaign by offering her services as a mentor to help women get back into work.

The underlying message was clear: the bond between Prince Harry and his cousin is as close as ever.

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‘Closest of friends’: Over the years, Eugenie has been Harry’s confidante and matchmaker. Now she is seen as one of his closest allies within the royal family. Pictured, Harry shares a joke with Eugenie at Trooping the Colour in June 2012

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Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022

Harry and Eugenie grew up playing together in royal parks and frolicking on the slopes on family ski holidays. Although their older siblings Prince William and Princess Beatrice were there too, it was always clear the relationship between Harry and Eugenie was special.

Their connection is rooted not only in their shared experience as young royals and younger siblings finding their own path in life, but also as children of parents whose dirty laundry was aired in the press.

‘From an early age, Eugenie had to deal with the embarrassing headlines of both her father and mother,’ explained Nigel Crawthorne, author of Prince Andrew. ‘Harry had to deal with his share of headlines, too, and this bond between them was a great consolation for them.’

Over the years, Eugenie has been Harry’s close friend, confidante, and even matchmaker. Now she is seen as one of his closest allies within the royal family.

Despite being born five years apart, Harry and Eugenie often spent time together as children thanks to the friendship between their mothers Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, who would pack up the children for joint family holidays.

Photos from a 1995 ski trip show William and Harry smiling in the snow with the two young York sisters, and trudging up the slope with the girls trailing determinedly behind. Beatrice and Eugenie were also included in the final Christmas card Princess Diana sent out before her death.

‘Out of all the Queen’s grandchildren, Harry and Eugenie have one of the most natural connections,’ Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote in the Sussex biography Finding Freedom. The book also describes them as the ‘closest of friends’.

‘Like Harry, Eugenie is loyal, honest and great fun,’ the book continues. ‘The two had many nights out together in London, sneaking into back entrances of clubs, such as Mahiki, where Jack once was manager, or Tonteria, where in one of the VIP cave areas they downed shots from Mexican skull shaped glasses and a giant frozen margarita (with multiple straws).’

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At King Charles’s Coronation in May 2023, the cousins were also spotted chatting up a storm, with the Duke appearing to share a joke with Eugenie’s husband as they stood outside Westminster Abbey

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Childhood bond: Prince Harry (left) and Prince William with Princess Eugenie (left) and Princess  Beatrice on a family holiday to Klosters, Switzerland, in 1995

The cousins also bonded over their shared difficulty of carving a role for themselves within the royal family, with Eugenie, who is not a working royal, having to seek out her own career path.

Harry has always confided in Eugenie and she was reportedly among the first to know about his relationship with Meghan, whom she already knew through their mutual friend Misha Nonoo.

‘Not only did he trust her implicitly, but friends said that she gives great advice and has always been ‘beyond wise’ for her years,’ Scobie and Durant wrote.

Eugenie and Jack, who married in October 2018, just six months after Harry and Meghan, went on double dates with the couple in Toronto and London.

The Princess and her then boyfriend were at a party in Soho House in Toronto in 2016 when Harry and the Suits star were first seen together. Eugenie was instrumental in keeping their relationship secret.

In the explosive tell-all Oprah Winfrey interview, in which Harry and Meghan criticised the Royal Family, Eugenie was singled out for praise.

Meghan said: ‘Eugenie and I had known each other before I had known Harry, so that was comfortable […] We’re friends with them as a couple.’

The Sussexes, Eugenie and Jack were all guests at Misha Nonoo’s lavish Rome wedding in the summer of 2019.

They also have mutual friends in singer Ellie Goulding and George and Amal Clooney, who were guests at Harry and Meghan’s nuptials.

Harry and Eugenie’s relationship came under strain in 2018 when he and Meghan reportedly told senior royals they were expecting their first child together at Eugenie and Jack’s wedding.

The official announcement came just days later, eclipsing any lingering coverage of Eugenie’s big day.

However it would seem any bad blood between the cousins was soon washed away.

In a sign of how close they are, after Harry and Meghan moved to North America and quit royal duties in 2020, Frogmore Cottage was leased to Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank until 2022.

For the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip and the unveiling of the Princess Diana statue, Harry chose to stay with Eugenie at Frogmore Cottage.

Meghan also referred to the Duchess of York as ‘Fergie’ during her tell-all Oprah interview, hinting at a friendship that would have surprised many viewers.

Despite there being five years between Harry and his younger cousin, they married and had children at the same time.

Meghan and Eugenie reportedly bonded over motherhood and pregnancy and have taken similar approaches to presenting their children on social media – choosing to have photoshoots in the garden but obscuring the little ones’ faces.

Eugenie is also keen to show her public support for the Sussexes, previously dedicating an Instagram post to congratulating them on the arrival of daughter Lilibet.

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The CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club (pictured), is a luxury resort an hour south of Lisbon on Portugal’s picturesque Atlantic coast

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Jose Santos, head of the Alentejo Tourism Board, confirmed that the Sussexes had enjoyed a ‘short stay’ at the CostaTerra

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In a sign of how close they are, after Harry and Meghan moved to North America and quit royal duties in 2020, Frogmore Cottage, pictured, was leased to Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank until 2022

At King Charles’s Coronation in May 2023, the cousins were also spotted chatting up a storm, with the Duke appearing to share a joke with Eugenie’s husband as they stood outside Westminster Abbey.

Then inside, Harry was seated in the third row between Jack and Princess Alexandra, the cousin of the late Queen..

They were joined by Eugenie and her sister Princess Beatrice as well as her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. A photo of Jack and Harry at their seats also seemed to show them enjoying a conversation.

A lip reader claimed that Harry even moaned he was ‘fed up with the way they treat me’ as he chatted to Jack.

It was not clear who was the target of his ‘fed up’ complaint, although there has been speculation he could have been speaking about the Royal Family, following ongoing tensions over his decision to quit as a working royal and publish a highly critical memoir.

Speaking of his friendship with Jack in the aforementioned book, Harry said that he and Meghan were ‘deliriously happy’ when he and Eugenie got married – adding ‘and for ourselves, selfishly, since Jack was one of our favourite people’.

In 2023, a source told People magazine: ‘[Harry and Eugenie] are still the best of friends and talk constantly’.

They added that the tensions between Harry, Meghan and the Firm has been ‘really stressful’ for Beatrice and Eugenie, and they find it ‘hard to watch’ because they ‘see both sides’.

Last year, it was reported that the Sussexes enjoyed a ‘romantic three-night break’ in Portugal after attending the Invictus Games in Germany.

The couple are said to have flown from Dusseldorf to Lisbon before travelling an hour south to Melides in a ‘mega-secret’ operation.

A source close to the Sussexes confirmed that they had been to Portugal. At the time, it was thought that they stayed with Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank, who have visited them at their home in Montecito, California.

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Meghan previously revealed on the Ellen DeGeneres show how she and the Duke hit the town incognito in Halloween costumes with his cousin and her partner for a final night out before their relationship was revealed

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Prince Harry with Princess Eugenie during the annual Trooping The Colour ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 13, 2015

Jose Santos, head of the Alentejo Tourism Board, confirmed that the Sussexes had enjoyed a ‘short stay’ at the CostaTerra.

‘We have no idea how many people linked to cinema, royalty, arts, design and fashion visit us, precisely because they value discreet travel, which is something they find in Alentejo like nowhere else in Europe,’ he said.

CostaTerra Golf is owned by a company founded by Mike Meldman, one of George Clooney’s business partners in tequila firm Casamigos. Mr Brooksbank previously worked as a brand ambassador for Casamigos.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that Meghan seemingly enjoyed her visit to Portugal enough to then purchase property there, considering she once mentioned her longing to visit ‘lovely Lisbon’.

A resurfaced blog post from Meghan’s now-defunct lifestyle website The Tig reads: ‘Lovely Lisbon has long been on my list of places to travel (alliteration much?) – the wines and madeira, the history and culture rounding every cobblestone turn, not to mention the beaches, Baroque architecture, and the applause worthy sunsets.’

The purchase of the home in Portugal may have also allowed the Sussexes to acquire a so-called Golden Visa, under which they would have visa-free access to the European Union’s Schengen area.

This could have been a major attraction to Meghan, who is a US citizen. When the couple got engaged in November 2017, Kensington Palace said Meghan would apply for British citizenship in due course, with a spokesman confirming that ‘she will go through the process [which] takes a number of years’.

However, she eventually abandoned her bid to become a British citizen after she and her husband left the country in March 2020, less than two years after their wedding.

A spokesman for the Sussexes confirmed in January last year that they had been asked by the King to give up their British home, Frogmore Cottage.

The five-bedroom property in the grounds of Windsor Castle was offered to Prince Andrew, the King’s brother, who rejected a move from the much larger Royal Lodge elsewhere at Windsor.

The King’s move followed the publication of Harry’s highly controversial memoir, Spare, in which he criticised members of the Royal Family including his stepmother, Queen Camilla, and his brother and sister-in-law, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Frogmore Cottage was given to the Sussexes by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2018, shortly after the couple were married at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. Officially, however, the Crown Estate owns the property.

Harry and Meghan carried out some £2million worth of taxpayer-funded renovations, though they subsequently repaid the cost in full through a contribution to the Sovereign Grant.

After Harry and Meghan moved to North America and quit royal duties in 2020, Frogmore Cottage was leased to Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank until 2022.

The Sussexes’ main home is a £19.5 million Tuscan-style mansion in Montecito with seven bedrooms, 13 and a half bathrooms, library, cinema, gym, pool and chicken coop.

He’s still waiting for that knighthood – despite years of good works and lending his support to the Royal Family. He even queued with the masses for nearly 12 hours to see the late Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall in September 2022.

But David Beckham is about to receive a significant honour in the form of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There are six categories: motion pictures, TV, audio recording or music, radio, theatre or live performance, and sports entertainment.

They allow around 20 to be honoured every year, but if you are selected then you have to stump up $75,000 for installation and maintenance. A spokesman for the scheme declines to comment on who paid.

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Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, left, and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham talks before the ceremony of the Supporters’ Shield

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David Beckham is about to receive a significant honour in the form of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (above)

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David Beckham and Victoria Beckham at the 2024 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards Dinner and 20th Anniversary Celebration

Life, death and a ‘gift’ of a role for Moore 

Julianne Moore had been ‘praying’ that Spanish director Pedro Almodovar would make a film in English so she could act in it – and her dreams finally came true with The Room Next Door.

Speaking in London over the weekend she said: ‘Like every English-speaking actress in the entire world, we have all prayed that someday Pedro would make a film in the English language and you might possibly be cast.

‘For me I never imagined it would be possible. Then one day I opened up my email and there was one from Pedro saying: ‘I am making this film with Tilda [Swinton, her co-star] and would you like to be involved?’

‘It came completely out of the blue and was a tremendous gift.’ The film, which has at its core the debate over assisted dying, stars Tilda as a war journalist who is terminally ill. She reconnects with an old friend, played by Moore, whose help she asks for in taking charge of her impending demise. It’s in cinemas from today.

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Julianne Moore attends the ‘The Room Next Door’ red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 02, 2024 in Venice

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Tilda Swinton, Pedro Almodovar and Julianne Moore attend the ‘The Room Next Door’ red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival

Meet the Mitfords: the rebel ‘Fleabags’ of their generation

The Mitford sisters – society It-girls of the 1930s – are presented as ‘six Fleabags’ in a big-budget period drama, Outrageous.

Producer Liz Kilgarriff, of Firebird Pictures, says: ‘We talked about it as sort of six Fleabags [after Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s TV comedy]. There’s something fascinating about six women who all refuse to do what they are supposed to, which is marry well and bring money into the family. It’s the rebellion.’

Nancy Mitford wrote The Pursuit Of Love and Love In A Cold Climate. Diana, a great beauty, divorced Guinness heir Bryan and married British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley (played in Outrageous by Kylie Minogue’s ex, Joshua Sasse).

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Nancy Mitford (above) wrote The Pursuit Of Love and Love In A Cold Climate

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Three of the Mitford sisters as guests at the wedding of Lord Stanley of Aldernay and Lady Audrey Talbot in 1932. English Nazi sympathizer Unity Mitford (l) with her sisters, novelist Nancy Mitford (r) and Diana Mitford (c)

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Outrageous – First look Picture shows: Bessie Carter as Nancy Mitford

Unity was a friend of Hitler, while communist Jessica, or ‘Decca’, eloped with her second cousin Esmond to join the Spanish Civil War.

Pamela was referred to as the ‘Rural Mitford’ by her admirer, the poet John Betjeman. She divorced her millionaire physicist husband and lived for much of the 1960s with Italian horsewoman Giuditta Tommasi. Deborah became the Duchess of Devonshire and developed stately home Chatsworth House.

Pooch had on-screen incentive to lick Ryan Reynolds face 

Making on-screen smooching look real is a challenge for the best of actors. But thespian dog Peggy – who played Dogpool in Deadpool & Wolverine – had an added incentive to lick Ryan Reynolds face so crazily in the film: salmon paste.

Owner Luke Middleton – speaking at the launch of the Fidos (aka For Incredible Dogs On Screen awards) – said: ‘There were various things they tried to get her to lick him. The thing that worked was putting copious amounts of salmon paste in his [Ryan’s] mouth.’

Five-year-old Peggy, a Chinese crested-pug cross, started on her path to fame after being crowned Britain’s ugliest dog in a contest in 2023. The Fidos will be given out in February, at Bafta time.

Their continental counterpart, the Palme Dog, happens around the Cannes Film Festival.

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Five-year-old Peggy, a Chinese crested-pug cross, started on her path to fame after being crowned Britain’s ugliest dog in a contest in 2023

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thespian dog Peggy – who played Dogpool in Deadpool & Wolverine – had an added incentive to lick Ryan Reynolds face so crazily in the film: salmon paste

Is Coleen Rooney is headed for the jungle?

Coleen Rooney is preparing to leave her four kids behind when she goes into the jungle, as is rumoured, for I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!.

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Coleen Rooney is preparing to leave her four kids behind when she goes into the jungle

Her sons Kai, 14, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, six, are all at school, but I hear she has organised family help and is hoping they can join her for at least a part of her month in Australia.

One of the highlights of the Disney+ documentary about the Wagatha Christie affair was watching Coleen prepare to go to London for the trial, leaving behind neatly pressed and labelled uniforms and sports kit for her brood.

Hugh Grant is secretly a star cricketer 

Hugh Grant’s passion for golf is well-known, but it turns out he’s also good at cricket.

Comedian Arthur Smith says: ‘Hugh Grant used to play in a cricket team I ran. We were called The Dusty Fleming International Hairstylists XI.

He was quite a useful bat – I think he might have hit a 50 once. He wasn’t much of a bowler. But all the girls fancied him.’

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Hugh Grant and Anna Eberstein attend the match between Como 1907 and Parma at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Como, Italy

One Direction star Liam Payne fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last week – and police investigating his death have a theory about a bathroom item found at the scene

A box of soap could prove to be a key clue in the shock death of Liam Payne.

 

A new report has suggested officials investigating the death of the One Direction star – who fell from a balcony last week in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last week – believe drugs may have been smuggled to the star via a soap box. Following the singer’s death at the age of 31, images from the hotel room he stayed in leaked online. 

One image showed foil and other paraphernalia that is often linked to the use of drugs. However, a box of soap was also visible in one image, which police in Argentina are claiming could have concealed illegal produce.

The new update comes after reports suggested police could make arrests in connection to the star’s death. It has previously been reported that police entered the hotel room of the chart topping star to remove items as evidence.

Fans have been paying tribute to Liam around the world ( 
Image:
PA)

Now TMZ – who sparked controversy by publishing images of the singer’s body after his fatal fall – have reported a soap box is being considered a key piece of evidence. The outlet reports: “Authorities are now investigating the possibility a hotel employee delivered drugs to Liam, which has them focusing on a Dove soap box found in the room, and seen very clearly in a photograph taken after Liam’s deadly fall.”

The outlet added: “The operating theory is the soap box might have been used to secretly hand-off the drugs to Liam.” Liam’s death shocked the music world when he fell to his death on Wednesday 16 October.

His bandmates in One Direction shared heartbreaking tributes following the news of his death. Harry Styles wrote, as part of a touching statement: “His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.” Zayn Malik, who had a fractured friendship with the singer, wrote: “I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.

 

“When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved. Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f**ks about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.”

Louis Tomlinson wrote: “I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours , reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.”

Liam Payne fans point out ha:unting detail in last photo: There is ‘hidden meaning’

Liam Payne left his legion of loyal fans bereft when he tragically fell from his hotel room in Argentina (
Image: Buenos Aires Police/AFP via Gett)

 

Liam Payne’s fans have been commenting on his heartbreaking last Instagram photo, which shows One Direction with the late documentary maker, Morgan Spurlock

Liam Payne’s fans believe his ‘haunting’ ‘last Instagram post has a heart-wrenching hidden meaning.

The One Direction star left his legion of loyal fans bereft last week when he fell from the third floor suite of his hotel, aged 31, in Argentina. Since his tragic death, Directioners around the world have being paying tribute to the singer and now they’ve spotted a poignant detail in his final photo.

Taking to Instagram, shortly before he died, Liam shared a snap of One Direction with American documentary maker, Morgan Spurlock. Paying tribute to the Supersize Me Star, who died in May following complications with cancer, Liam wrote: “Rest in peace Morgan Spurlock, it was a pleasure working with you.”

Morgan was responsible for the band’s fly-on-the-wall 3D documentary, One Direction: This Is Us, which followed the singers for six months.

Liam Payne’s fans have been commenting on his heartbreaking last Instagram photo ( 
Image:
Dave Allocca/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock)

Commenting on Liam’s post, fans pointed out that both Liam and Morgan were standing next to each other in the photo, as one shared: “The fact that his last post is with One Direction, but he’s separated from the other four by Morgan, that also left us this year…I know it’s just a coincidence, but it’s foreshadowing.”

Another agreed, saying: “True, its kind of creepy. God, I wish this didn’t happen” while a third noted: “I noticed that too.” Meanwhile a fourth mused: “It’s like he knew.”

Fans across the world continue to struggle to come to terms with Liam’s death more than one week on. Police in Argentina continue to investigate the tragedy, but authorities and fans alike are left with several major questions, including why the pop sensation was left alone and without his bodyguard.

Liam fell 49ft from a balcony in Buenos Aires, where he had been on holiday with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy. Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, confirmed that the singer fell into an internal courtyard at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. Speaking to Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel last week, Crescenti said: “A few minutes later [an] emergency team arrived and confirmed the death of this man who we later learned was from a musical group. He had injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall. There was no way to do anything.”

 

Liam’s father Geoff, 66, flew out to Argentina last Friday to organise the repatriation of his son’s body, but we still don’t know when he will return to the UK to be laid to rest.

The family’s initial application to bring the star home has been delayed by the Argentinian prosecutor until further toxicology reports have been completed. An initial report has ruled that Liam was exposed to various drugs, but it was stressed the initial results do not offer an accurate reading of how much was circulating in his body when he died.

A final analysis is believed to take between ten to 15 days from the point of death, but it can take longer. Investigators are also trawling through mobile phone, computer and security camera data, which “require longer analysis time”.