David and Victoria Beckham attended their first Buckingham Palace state banquet on Tuesday, joining King Charles III and Queen Camilla for a glamorous event honoring Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The evening saw 170 high-profile guests, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Prince William, dining in the Palace ballroom.
Beckham’s invitation stemmed from his role as a paid ambassador for Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a position that reportedly earned him £10 million but also drew criticism due to Qatar’s laws criminalizing same-sex relationships.
WATCH: State Banquet surprise guests ⬇️
David and @victoriabeckham arrive at tonight’s State Banquet at Buckingham Palace for the visit of the Emir of Qatar.
🇶🇦 🇬🇧 👑 pic.twitter.com/l5mQnd1dyi— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) December 3, 2024
Victoria, dressed in a custom dark purple gown from her own label, accompanied her husband as they processed into the East Gallery. Once seated, the couple adhered to state banquet protocol by sitting apart. David was placed next to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, while Victoria was between Labour peer Lord Levy and surgeon Lord Darzi.
The menu featured a lavish spread, including Cornish lobster tartlets, Windsor pheasant, and Balmoral plum sorbet. Guests were also served a Royal Mirage mocktail, crafted to reflect the Qatari flag and honor the Emir’s preference for non-alcoholic beverages.
Floral arrangements, featuring red amaryllis, black tulips, and winterberries, adorned the ballroom, with the flowers set to be donated to hospices and care homes post-event. Music for the evening was provided by the Hiraeth String Quartet and King’s Harpist Mared Pugh-Evans.
The banquet highlighted Beckham’s growing ties with the royal family. A longtime royal supporter, he recently joined King Charles’s charity, The King’s Foundation, and was present at key royal events, including the weddings of William and Kate, and Harry and Meghan. Victoria, a noted fashion designer and OBE recipient, has seen her creations worn by royals such as Meghan Markle and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
The event marked another milestone in the Beckhams’ relationship with the monarchy, further cementing their status as showbiz royalty.
