Proud David Beckham gave a reassuring hand to his wife Victoria as they joined the royals at King’s glittering state banquet for Qatar on Tuesday night.
The former footballer, 49, attended the event with his fashion designer wife, 50, who looked slightly nervous at one point while walking before David reassuringly took her hand.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are hosting a lavish reception for the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher, who are in the country for a two-day state visit.
It is understood that former England star David was invited because of his role as an ambassador for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
He was seated next to Naseer Al-Khelaifi, a Qatari businessman and President of French football club PSG – where Beckham ended his high-profile career – ensuring the two men had much to talk about.
At the event Victoria looked stunning in a figure-hugging black dress no doubt from her own fashion brand.
She wore her brunette tresses slicked back and carried a small gold bag to accessorise the look.
Meanwhile David cut a dapper figure in a black jacket and trousers, crisp white shirt and bow tie.
Perhaps mischievously on his right at the banquet was new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, also attending her first State Banquet.
Beckham, it should be noted, also played right wing.
Former Spice Girl Victoria – sealing her stratospheric rise from pop stardom to the seat of power – was sat even closer to the ‘top table’ than her husband on the right hand side of the horse shoe-shaped dining table.
She had The Lord Levy on her left – appropriately not only a peer but a former CEO of a large group of independent music companies – and Lord Darzi, knighted for his services to medicine and surgery, on her right.
The seating plan is organised by Buckingham Palace’s Master of the Household’s Department in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who fund the State Visit.
And it will surely add only fuel to the fire of speculation that Beckham will be knighted in the near future.
The banquet was the dazzling culmination of a day of pomp and pageantry, honouring the Emir and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher – who landed at London’s Stansted airport yesterday.
The palace ballroom was decorated with a riot of seasonal flowers and foliage in red, reflecting the Qatari flag, arranged in silver-gilt centrepieces taken from the Grand Service from Windsor Home Park and the Orchard Garden at the glasshouses in Windsor.
The flowers are donated the next day to hospices, care home and shelters through Floral Angels, a charity of which Queen Camilla is patron.
Other senior royals present included Prince Anne, who was seated on the top table with the King, Queen and Prince of Wales, as well as the Qatari dignitaries.
The Duke and Duchesses of Edinburgh and Gloucester were also present.
The banquet menu was halal in respect of many of the guests present and while alcohol was served for those to wanted it, a ‘mocktail’ was also devised for the occasion.
The three-course menu included a tartlet of Cornish Lobster and Quails Eggs to start; Supreme of Windsor Pheasant wrapped in Savoy cabbage, roasted celeriac purée, gratinated potatoes with a soft creamy cheese from Suffolk, Truffle sauce and winter vegetables; with an Iced Bombe with Organic Samoan Vanilla Ice cream and Balmoral Plum Sorbet for desert.
In honour of the occasion, a palace ‘page of the presence’ – who is studying for a masters in wine but is also a part time mixologist – devised a special alcohol-free tipple for the occasion – dubbed a ‘Royal Mirage’ made from smoked pomegranate and ginger with a black lime garnish.
Ahead of the banquet, King Charles and Queen Camilla joined the Emir of Qatar and his wife for a group photograph on the steps of Buckingham Palace ahead of a lavish state banquet in honour of the visiting royals.
