Twenty-five years of marriage is a cause for celebration for any couple, but especially for David and Victoria Beckham, who have proved all the early critics wrong who claimed the celebrity couple wouldn’t last.

The fashion designer, 50, and the former footballer, 49 met in 1997 after ‘Posh Spice’ attended one of David’s Manchester United matches with Mel C.

They announced to the public that they were engaged a year later and have been happily married since July 1999.

Now, four children, a countryside property in the Cotswolds, and a documentary later, Posh and Becks are gearing up to celebrate their milestone silver wedding anniversary on July 4.

So, as the couple commemorate this landmark moment in their love story, MailOnline takes a look back at how the pair have evolved into the power couple they are today…

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As David and Victoria Beckham are gearing up to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, MailOnline takes a look back at how the pair have evolved into the power couple they are today

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The fashion designer, 50, and the former footballer, 49 met in 1997 after ‘Posh Spice’ attended one of David’s Manchester United matches with Mel C

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The fashion designer, 50, and the former footballer, 49 met in 1997 after ‘Posh Spice’ attended one of David’s Manchester United matches with Mel C

How their A-list love story began

David and Victoria first met in 1997, when she came to watch him at a Manchester United football match and he said ‘hi from across the room’.

Victoria recalled the meeting in a letter for her 18-year-old self in Vogue, writing: ‘While the other football players stand at the bar drinking with their mates, you will see David standing aside with his family.

‘(He’s not even in the first team at this stage—you are the famous one.) And he has such a cute smile. You, too, are close to your family, and you will think how similar he feels to you.’

Meanwhile, during an appearance on Ellen DeGeneres show, David also told of the sweet moment, saying: ‘She came to a football match—soccer match—and I said “hi” from across the room and that was it.

‘I thought I’d missed my chance, and then a week later she turned up at another football match. She had a few to drink, and she gave me her number.’

A romantic proposal

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In January 1998, just one year after meeting, David and Victoria announced that they were engaged

Soon after their initial meeting, the couple went on their first date and quickly became inseparable.

In January 1998, just one year after meeting, David and Victoria announced that they were engaged.

At the time it was considered the definition of an A-List love story, with David one of the biggest stars for England and Manchester United, and Victoria a member of The Spice Girls.

Speaking about the proposal, Victoria said at the time: ‘We’d already looked at a few rings but I didn’t know which one he had chosen. I’d told him what my dream ring would be. He remembered and had it specially made for me’.

The proposal came when they checked into a hotel after a Manchester United game, after which Victoria was presented with 30 roses before being escorted to their room which was packed with £200 worth of red and yellow lillies.

The duo slipped into bath robes, ordered dinner and champagne and David popped the question much to Victoria’s utter delight.

A lavish celebrity wedding

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While they were a popular pairing before, David and Victoria cemented their place as an up and coming power couple when they tied the knot in 1999 after two years of dating

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Posh and Becks opted for a Robin Hood-themed wedding when they got hitched at Dublin’s Luttrellstown Castle (pictured in 1999)

Mere months before the couple became Mr and Mrs Beckham, David and Victoria welcomed their first child together, son Brooklyn.

He was born at London’s Portland Hospital in London and it is often reported that he was named Brooklyn because he was conceived in NYC.

While they were a popular pairing before, David and Victoria cemented their place as an up and coming power couple when they tied the knot in 1999 after two years of dating.

And the lavish wedding was not one to be forgotten – the Robin Hood-themed extravaganza saw the couple sit on giant golden thrones while they stared down at their star-studded guests.

Sparing no expense, the couple hired Bentley’s Entertainments, organisers of Elton John’s birthday as well as Princess Anne’s 40th, to mastermind the highly-publicised showbiz event.

David rocked up to Dublin’s Luttrellstown Castle in a £230,000 Bentley Azure wearing a cream suit designed by Timothy Everett, with lover Victoria sported a Vera Wang dress as she rode in style in a Bentley Arnage.

She had hired Simon Lycett, who worked on the 90s rom-com Four Weddings And A Funeral, to set up the floral arrangements – complete with fresh apples which had been pierced and dotted around the castle in order to discharge the scent of fruit.

Cutting into a three-tiered Rachel Mount cake at 10pm, speeches from their loved ones were made before Posh and Becks performed their first dance to Frank Sinatra’s It Had To Be You.

Matching hairstyles and coordinating outfits

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At one point, the fashion designer and footballer even had very similar hairstyles

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The couple established themselves as style icons early in the heydey of their relationship and were regularly seen donning matching outfits (pictured in 2003)

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Victoria said they didn’t wear matching outfits a lot but the times that they did were well documented, including this matching outfit in 1998

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Twinning! Victoria Beckham, 49, and husband David, 47, stepped out in matching double denim outfits and shared a snap showing off their twinning ensembles to Instagram

The couple established themselves as style icons early in the heydey of their relationship and were regularly seen donning matching outfits.

At one point, the fashion designer and footballer even had very similar hairstyles.

Back in October 2021, Victoria revealed during a visit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon why she and David used to wear matching outfits.

‘It just seemed like a really good idea at the time,’ Victoria said, drawing giggles from the studio audience in New York City.

‘It really did. I think there was a naïveté then, we didn’t know about fashion,’ she added.

‘We were just having fun with it, which to be honest with you, is kind of the way it should be. I really wish I had the courage to do it more now,’ Victoria said.

She said they didn’t know nor care and just wanted to have fun with their outfits, explaining: ‘And we were like, ”Hey, let’s wear matching leather…And we did.”

And although their fashion sense has definitely evolved, the couple still haven’t quite put their days of twinning behind them.

In 2023, the pair stepped out once again in matching double denim outfits.

The Spice Girls singer took to her Instagram Stories, where she shared a snap showing off their similar ensembles.

They were dressed in near identical light-wash denim shirts and jeans for a movie night, with VB accessorising with a tan leather clutch.

Expanding their family

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Mere months before the couple became Mr and Mrs Beckham, David and Victoria welcomed their first child together, son Brooklyn

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In the wake of the scandal, the Beckhams truly moved on when they welcomed baby Cruz in February 2005 with David announcing the news

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The couple have embraced family life with their four children – Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and 12-year-old Harper

In 2002, Victoria and David welcomed their second son Romeo to the world.

A smiling David emerged from the hospital near Regent’s Park to tell the waiting media the news. Flanked by his personal assistant, he told reporters: ‘We’ve had a little boy called Romeo.’

Asked about the birth, David said that he had been present and the experience had been nerve-wracking: ‘It’s always nervous having children but it’s the most beautiful thing in the world. (Victoria’s) great. She’s sitting up in bed. The family are here…

‘He looks like Brooklyn. He’s got Brooklyn’s nose and Victoria’s chin’.

They went on to welcome Cruz in February 2005 and their fourth child – and their first daughter – baby Harper – in 2011, which completed their family.

Brooklyn is now 25, Romeo is 21, Cruz is 19 and Harper is 12.

Swapping the limelight for a farm life

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In recent years, Posh and Becks have also created a safe haven away from the glitz and glam of their careers – and it’s a far cry from what life was like in the noughties heydey of their romance

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The couple have a £6million Cotswolds farmhouse, where they grow their own vegetables, practice beekeeping, and even take care of chickens

In recent years, Posh and Becks have also created a safe haven away from the glitz and glam of their careers – and it’s a far cry from what life was like in the noughties heydey of their romance.

The couple have a £6million Cotswolds farmhouse, where they grow their own vegetables, practice beekeeping, and even take care of chickens.

David’s relaxing new way of life, which includes getting excited at his chickens laying ‘lovely’ eggs and showing his followers how to plant a rose shrub, shows that the couple have grown to appreciate a different kind of life.

In July 2020, Victoria gave fans an insight into family life as she filmed her husband getting to work building bee hives.

The father-of-four was in the zone as he put the hives together in the garden, with Victoria explaining: ‘David decided to start building bee hives. Is that your new project darling?’

David replied: ‘It is. You’ll be very happy when we’ve got our own honey.’

Viewers got a glimpse into the Soho Farmhouse-inspired home as part of the new Netflix docuseries Beckham – where the couple showed off their very expensive taste and eye for classic designers, hardwood flooring and exposed brick walls.

After the Beckhams’ improvements, the property boasts a sauna, plunge pool, football pitch, gym, swimming pool and £50,000 safari tent in the grounds for entertaining. It is now thought to be worth about £12 million.

The Beckham empire

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According to The Sunday Times Rich List 2024, Posh and Becks boast a combined fortune of £455million

The Beckhams also cleverly turned their much-adored family into an ever-expanding business and property empire.

According to The Sunday Times Rich List 2024, Posh and Becks boast a combined fortune of £455million.

They have been involved in a number of big money brand deals and ventures and last year it was revealed that David earned a jaw-dropping £657,322 per week in 2022 – as he and his wife Victoria shared an £8 million dividend from their empire.

Beckham Brand Holdings, which acts as the umbrella company for David’s investments and branding and Victoria’s fashion and beauty firm, revealed in accounts filed that profits for 2021 hit £19.1m, up from £11.6m a year earlier.

Most came from DB Ventures – the former England footballer’s brand is licensed to the likes of video games producer Electronic Arts, Adidas, watch company Tudor, whisky brand Haig Club and car manufacturer Maserati.

Supporting each other

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Through their differing business ventures and achievments, the couple always publicly congratulate each other after big wins

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They also regularly share sweet moments of their lives with fans on social media, with keeps them established as one of the most talked-about power couples

One thing that David and Victoria have evidently never stopped doing is supporting each other.

Through their differing business ventures and achievements, the couple always publicly congratulate each other after big wins.

In March, Victoria proudly watched the catwalk show of her latest collection during Paris Fashion Week.

And as the Beckham empire continues to grow, David couldn’t contain his pride for his wife as he took to Instagram to share his love for the fashion designer.

The former footballer gushed that he was ‘so proud’ of Victoria after she failed to let her injury or protestors spoil her big night.

In a jokey snap, David gave Victoria a piggy-back while holding a bottle of champagne as Victoria thanked him for his support, while making reference to her injury.

She wrote: ‘Always supporting me (literally) I love you so much x Kisses x’.

They also regularly share sweet moments of their lives with fans on social media, with keeps them established as one of the most talked-about power couples, and even providing a role model for others.

Speaking about their relationship to ELLE Spain in April, Victoria said: ‘My husband is an inspiration to me. Do we look like the couple seen in the Netflix documentary? Yes. We like to have fun, chat, dance, drink.

‘And laugh at each other. That’s what it takes to be happy. I believe a lot in laughter, family and friendship. I realize that we have become a model. People like to see relationships that last.’