The Beckhams depart from the UK on their way to LA

Update: Click here for Victoria’s interview on KIIS FM earlier today. CBB reader Rose says, ‘I just heard Victoria’s interview on KIIS this morning and I have to say I love her.’

Originally posted July 12th: The Beckham family — David, 32, Victoria, 33, Brooklyn Joseph, 8, Romeo James, 4 1/2, and Cruz David, 2, were spotted at Heathrow airport on their way to America to move into their new home in Beverly Hills. Victoria told W Magazine,

I think people are really going to see me for the first time. I think they have this impression that I’m this miserable cowwho doesn’t smile. But I’m actually quite the opposite. Whenyou’re out there, they’re trying to get pictures up your shirt, downyour top. With all the flashes, it’s as much as you can do tojust find your car. I’m going to try and smile more for America.

Of their new home, she says,

We didn’t want anything too huge, too fancy, too ostentatious. Thegoal was something quite practical for the kids. It’s alight, happy house, with a great corridor the kids are going to lovewhen they are roller-skating.

Photos by Bauer Griffin; INF.

Comments

They are going to catch alot of hell about that bottle…

I was on a bottle until I was over 3 and have no problems with it but I’m sure others have a different opinion.

- Melea on July 12th, 2007

i dont have a problem with that but a lot of people does, he looks to big for a bottle but then you realize that he is just two so it ok, this kids are gorgeous i cant wait to see them in LA

- denisse on July 12th, 2007

Yep…I have to say something about the bottle. Why a bottle? In my opinion, it seems very babyish. Just wondering why a sippy cup or similar isn’t being used. I would love to hear other’s comments on this one.

Okay, as a side note, what a good looking family! David is sooooo handsome .

- Heidi on July 12th, 2007

Yup- Im going to say it! Whats with the bottle?? Cruz is over 1 year old, that bottle should be long gone.

- Corky on July 12th, 2007

I find it laughable that Posh says “oh, we don’t want the kids photographed,” then always dresses them identically (at least they’re not matching her and daddy this time) and makes plenty of chances for the photographers to see them out and about. They *are* cute kids, but she needs little reality check now and then.

- wavybrains on July 12th, 2007

You know, I’ve only been visiting this site a few months but the moment I saw that bottle, I thought, “I should just pop some corn and pour myself a big glass of Trader Joe’s tangerine juice, ’cause this is gonna be good.” LOL

I would just like to share one thing. My wife and I are good friends with another couple whose young son has a LOT of health issues that are not immediately apparent, and as a result he’s mentally challenged / developmentally behind for his age (3 1/2 years.) He’s a really great kid but whenever he enters a stressful situation, only his bottle calms him down. He sometimes only needs to hold it. This has resulted in complete strangers approaching my friends (in the airport, even in the doctor’s office) and admonishing them that their child is too old for a bottle. I wrote all that to say that we never really know what’s going on in people’s lives and what coping mechanisms they have necessarily devised to deal. The Beckham lad is likely quite fine but I, personally, would refrain from criticizing his use of the bottle because I don’t know him, his family or what their back-story might be.

- Roger on July 12th, 2007

very well said, Roger!

And as soon as I saw this picture, I was also thinking that the comments would be full of people griping about the bottle…

- syd on July 12th, 2007

Isn’t it just easier to use a bottle on the move, I mean it doesn’t spill? He is only 2 after all.

- Sophie on July 12th, 2007

I’d rather comment on her smile declaration, her hubby is smiling, her kids are smiling and she swore she was going to smile more, and here she is looking grumpy again–too funny!!

I’d be smiling all the time if I was married to Becks and had three gorgeous kids!

- ivey on July 12th, 2007

They’re all very cute, but what’s with all the matchy-matchy? Even mom and dad match! It’s a little ridiculous.

Kids should be able to show their individuality a bit and get dirty. I realize some kids like to match their siblings, but I find it hard to believe all three boys want this all the time. It’s not going to kill them, but it just annoys me for some reason–not just the Beckhams, whenever anybody does it.

- PSB on July 12th, 2007

Cruz turned 2 in February. He is still a baby, so let his bottle be. My cousin turned 2 in June and he still has a bottle for milk when it’s time to sleep. There is nothing wrong with it.

- Devon on July 12th, 2007

Can I say how STUNNING those three boys are? Victoria and David are definitely going to have their hands full in a few years lol. That’ll be the house with the ever ringing phone and the ever ringing door bell for those heartbreakers.

As for the bottle, as Roger so wonderfully put it you never know what’s going on in people’s lives. If they feel the bottle is necessary then guess what? It’s their child. It’s one thing to share our thoughts on a MB but I sincerely hope people aren’t bold and audacious enough to think they have the right to go up to them and comment. There’s nothing I despise more than busybody moms, the time they spend scolding another parent their kids are usually plotting their next covert plan for disobedience or visibly climbing up a wall lol.

- Grayson's Girl on July 12th, 2007

David always looks radiantly happy to be with his boys, but Victoria acts as if they bother her.

- madam pince on July 12th, 2007

I find that dress my kids in bright clothing of the same color helps me to look after them when we’re out and about.

- Misti on July 12th, 2007

to madam pince who said “Victoria acts as if they (the children) bother her”…I don’t think that’s fair at all. Maybe it’s the dozen flash-bulb popping papparazzi who are bothering her? I also read somewhere that Romeo is epileptic (although I don’t know if that’s correct), so maybe she was worried about the kids’ reaction to the cameras?
Also, as regards her comment about not wanting her kids in front of the cameras–let’s face it, she knows there are going to be times when they will be no matter what she prefers–at the airport, say. Or at a big soccer match that they are attending. But aside from those times, I haven’t noticed the boys being filmed or photographed so why can’t anyone cut the woman some slack?? Why always trying to see the worst of her?
I’ve seen her interviewed and she seemed perfectly nice. They BOTH seem to be very friendly, decent people who probably make mistakes but have weathered a lot of crisis and stress to keep their marriage and family together. Considering the behavior of so many celebrities out there today, I think David and Victoria are a lovely couple.

- Deborah on July 12th, 2007

I LOVE THIS FAMILY!

- Ali on July 12th, 2007

god, all i wanted to say was -rollerskating in the house????

i don’t have kids so i never take notice of bottles or pacifiers or anything like that in relation to a child’s size/age….

- ang on July 12th, 2007

I love them! I hope we see more photos of the kids now that they are living in America!

- Colleen on July 12th, 2007

Before I had my own children I would have had an opinion on the bottle and said he was too old BUT now having my own…I do not judge because I do not know their situation/needs. We all have something going on in our lives that someone else would not agree with.

- Ladybug on July 12th, 2007

There was another doco on this family before they moved to Spain and when David was getting something from the Queen. On their home turf, Victoria was lovely and smiley and really sweet with the boys (I don’t think Cruz was born yet). I’m not surprised she looks grumpy out in public, could you imagine your three foot tall children getting lost or trampled by beefy bodyguards and paps? It’s not easy wrangling three boys when there AREN’T crowds of people thronging around and flashes going off. In some photos she usually has a death grip on their hands or a piece of their clothing.

- Lilybett on July 12th, 2007

My oldest ASKS to be dressed like his brother far more frequently than not (3.5 and 1 year old). He gets upset if they don’t match. And, it is a lot easier to keep an eye on them in public, especially in bright stripes. A mom I know with 7 children dresses them in the same color when they go to large public places – easier to find the group AND easier if someone is lost to describe.

- Jean on July 12th, 2007

is that an avent bottle? anyone know?

- emilia on July 12th, 2007

Can anyone even imagine how scary it must be when you have three young boys and there are hundreds of paparazzi everywhere?? She must be so scared when she goes anywhere with them, so many things could happen. Paparazzi cause so many accidents, I would hate for a child to be the victim. Also, since Romeo has epilepsy I’m sure she and David worry about him being out in public too much. I know if I was her in this picture, there is no way I could force a smile. I would be holding onto my kids for dear life! With the matching outfits, maybe the kids like it that way?? Or maybe as people said earlier, she uses them to keep track of the boys just in case something happens, or to keep track of them??

All of that aside, they are one of the most gorgeous families I have ever seen! OMG the boys are adorable, it’s cute that they all have David’s haircut. Victoria is such a style icon, always so glamorous.

- Ali on July 12th, 2007

The reasons the boys are wearing matching clothes is that its a custom in Spain for kids to dress alike when they go out and after moving to Spain, I think they adapted that.

Cruz is only 2 and I dont see anything wrong with his bottle. Romeo had one till 4 though. Now thats a problem.

And about their kids getting photographed…what should have they done? Put huge blankets over their head while walking through the airport? You wil find that when they arrive in LA, the boys wont be with them since the boys will go through another door and not get photographed.

- Posh_Fan on July 12th, 2007

I didn’t notice much except for the boys and David. I’m still noticing David. But anyway, the photos are great, boys are gorgeous, David is always gorgeous, and Victoria is Victoria, though she did mention in an interview that the media/photogs has a thing for picking out pictures and depicting her as such by releasing said photos, with no smile and looking solemn.

I know she said she’s going to try to smile more, so I’m waiting…lol.

While I’m waiting, I’ll just take David and Cruz home with me. *sighs* ♥♥

- FC on July 12th, 2007

Haha back off FC!! Becks is mine and I dont mind Cruzie being my kid either!! They are both gorgeous! Well all 4 of the boys are and I think Victoria is as well!

- Posh_Fan on July 12th, 2007

I’m surprised at how few comments are against the bottle. Usually on CBB when a toddler has a bottle a riot breaks loose. Even though my 2 kids had no problem being off the bottle at 12 and 13 months I personally think 18 months is the max age for a bottle.
That being said I still think they are great parents. Even though I disagree with 1 parenting issue with all the things I’ve read and watched about Victoria talking about her kids I could tell she is very family oriented. I hope their boys don’t get mobbed when going out in LA. The paparazzi seem to be pretty vicious over here.

- estelle on July 12th, 2007

Oh did Romeo really have one till 4 ? I thought it was a bit earlier but I do recall seeing him with a bottle at the world cup last year now that I think about it.

- Laura on July 13th, 2007

They may have the bottle for Cruz to suck on during takeoff with water or juice to help his ears pop. He’s too young for gum, unlike his brothers, to help with the altitude during takeoff and landing.

- editorjax on July 13th, 2007

I’m sure here the British press agreed not to photograph, or buy pap pics of Romeo, because of his epilepsy. I’m suprised the Beckhams stand for it.

- Jen on July 13th, 2007

Just my 2 cents… I have 3 kiddos (6, 4, & 2) & they were off their bottles early, maybe 15 months, but we are not followed around daily by cameras. Maybe he still carries one as a security thing when they are out. Or like EDITORJAX said about the pressure on the takeoff & landing in the plane.

As for the dressing alike…someone said that’s how they dress in Spain. the first thing that I thought about was how easy it is to remember “red stripped shirt” & know that you are talking about any of the 3 boys rather than trying to remember what each boy was wearing – just in case one got away from them.

As far as Victoria coming across as “a miserable cow” (her quote, not mine!) – it has to be hard to live in the public eye ALL THE TIME, take care of 3 small boys, & have peple follow you all day & night. I wouldn’t be able to keep a smile on my face either.

Best wishes to them here the US.

- *** Beth *** on July 13th, 2007

Estelle mentioned the paps being vicious over here, but on the Today Show interview, Victoria said they are actually much nicer than they are in Europe!! How bad must they be over there if they make our paparazzi look good by comparison??

- Deborah on July 13th, 2007

Victoria’s been through a lot in recent years. Two more rough-and-tumble boys added to her brood, leaving behind her family and friends to move to Spain and then back again and now to the USA. No doubt dealing with the issues the moving will have dealt to her children too, trying to find good schools for them and helping them cope with the change. As well as dealing with her own career, obviously taking pride in maintaining her appearance, her husband’s celebrity status and commitments and the pressures that must put on them both, the list goes on. Plus, imagine your husband having an affair and it being front page news all over the world for almost three years. How would any of you cope with that? I don’t believe that having a lot of money in the bank can alleviate all of that stress. I don’t blame the poor woman for ever looking grumpy or unhappy, nor do I blame her for ever taking advantage of a photo-op that she couldn’t escape anyway without behaving like she’s in Mission Impossible.

- Sabina on July 13th, 2007

I just heard Victoria’s interview on KIIS this morning and I have to say I love her.
Who cares if she smiles or not. David is the best eye candy in LA now!

- Rose Jannuzzi on July 13th, 2007

i just found this great collage of the beckham kids on youtube. in one of the first pics of romeo, he looks EXACTLY like victoria. i find that romeo and cruz look more alike, but maybe brooklyn just looks more like his father to me because he’s a bit older.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtJldmDSN7I&mode=related&search=

- T on July 13th, 2007

Deborah, what Victoria says about the American press being much kinder than the press over in the UK is true. Jude Law and other celebs have said the exact same thing-as crazy as the paparazzi are here, they are nothing short of vicious in the UK. I look at the way paps speak to celebs here (like asking personal questions about their loves lives while they are with their children), and I can’t imagine what they must be like across the pond.

Anyway, about the bottle-I don’t buy the whole “they are under pressure, it’s a soothing mechanism, etc.” spiel. What does their being photographed constantly have to do with the fact that Cruz still inappropriately uses infant accessories when he should be over them by now? My godson was off his bottle and onto a sippy cup by 11 months with no problems, and he was off his pacifier even before that. And believe me, if he had had a problem with that, he would’ve let it be made known. Bottles and pacifiers, both of which Cruz still uses, are made and designed for babies-not for children. Barring a medical condition, there is no reason at all for Cruz to still have either a bottle or a pacifier.

And I love their matching outfits and think it’s cute that they are all dressed alike. It’s not like they’re identical triplets and you can’t tell who’s who!

- Lauren on July 13th, 2007

I 53rd the opinion that they are dressed alike and in bright colors to help keep track of them with the crowd and media circus all around them.

I lived in Britain at the time Becks “lost” the World Cup for England (he was removed for kicking a player on the opposing team, and without him the team was weaker) and there were actually threats made on his life, because soccer is so bloomin’ huge there and so many other places in the world. So the media IS very harsh on the Becks there, probably just calming down now from the World Cup ’98 fiasco.

It’s funny, Posh always seems posed serious in pics, but in interviews they both seem so approachable and like they are having a good, relaxed time. David is so gorgeous I am stunned from time to time. Love this whole family.

- daphneesmith on July 13th, 2007

I love this family!!

I don’t know why people criticize the boys being dress the same! I love dressing my daughters the same (3 and 5) either same clothes – different color or exactly the same, plus they love it too! I mean if they were 12-13-14 and still dress the same then it would be different, but they are children still. I love it!

- Bren on July 13th, 2007

I think Victoria has a bit of a guard up because she has been through the ringer.

The press (and public) never let her forget she isn’t a great singer and don’t give her credit for giving her dream a try with the Spice Girls. They just pick on her lack of talent.

Women want her man and a lot act like she isn’t even there. Not to mention many women in the UK and Spain have sold stories about sleeping with him which he has denied but it can’t be nice for his wife. They had this start as soon as they announced their engagement years and years ago.

How many of us have said we’re going to try at something (not nagging a partner for example) but then you’re provoked and that all goes out the window? I’m sure she wants to smile but when she’s in the thick of it she shuts off.

I can’t imagine what it’s like in her shoes.

- Cat Lady on July 13th, 2007

It actually makes me laugh how predictable comments have become. It’s quite amusing.

- MommyX1 on July 13th, 2007

This woman has to live with the knowledge that Scotland Yard foiled a very serious plot to kidnap her and Brooklyn (when he was their only child) and hold them ransom.

The men were arrested but it’s one other reason that I will cut the woman slack.

She’s a mother. She may not smile, but she doesn’t flash her privates or do a lot of things other mothers we know of do.

I know how I feel when I’m out with my two and as someone said they probably feel stressed by the mobs that surround them when they have the kids.

Just think, if a man that looked like a bodyguard picked up one of the boys would anyone think anything of it? In all that madness and chaos the last thing I would be thinking was ‘Am I smiling for everyone to not rip me apart for being moody?’

And they have asked that the paps not use flash on Cruz which is most likely why we had video of them leaving the airport and the boys were not with them. They have a lot on their plate.

- virginia on July 13th, 2007

I second the comments that they seem approachable.

In the UK we’ve seen a bit more of them and in one special they had cameras document their move to Spain for an hour long special.

There was one bit where Victoria was in the greenroom or somewhere and the boys were with her mom while she went on the show with David.

She was all done up and she took off her heels and chased the boys and even got on all fours to rough around with them.

Plus, they like to laugh at themselves and are always up for a comedy sketch or such.

Not to mention they do a lot of charity work and care a great deal about anything to do with children. People rarely see it, but as parents they both are quick to get involved, donate, etc. if it’s a children’s cause.

- poppy on July 13th, 2007

I think Roger kept most comments out about the bottle. I was sure it was going to be horrible things said about this family because of it but what he said was very true. We DON’T live in their lives so we have no place to say what they should do with their children.

My son is 12 months and if he wants a bottle for another year or two, fine with me. My son, my choice and everyone else’s opinion should be kept to themselves. Just like some people potty train before 2, some do it after 2. The main point is that you do what’s best for YOUR child, not what everyone says is the “right” thing just because they hit a certain age.

- Melea on July 13th, 2007

I second the thing about using the bottle for flying. Its actually reccommended to give a bottle, nurse, or give gum (if the child is old enough, which he is obviously not). But even if that’s not the reason, I agree with Roger.

I love these boys! They are so cute. Victoria seems to be a very devoted mom.

- seosinger on July 13th, 2007

If you think there’s nothing wrong with sucking on a bottle after the first teeth come in, especially at bedtime, maybe you should look up pictures of tooth decay in toddlers. It sure isn’t pretty to have black teeth when the kid starts school.

- jen on July 13th, 2007