Harper Beckham celebrated her 15th birthday yesterday, but the milestone was overshadowed by the conspicuous silence of her eldest brother, Brooklyn, and his wife, Nicola Peltz.
While David and Victoria Beckham poured out gushing tributes to their daughter on Instagram, the 27-year-old photographer and his actress wife did not post any public congratulations, deepening the rift that has set the Beckham clan at odds.
“Harper Beckham turns 15 as Brooklyn stays silent; David and Victoria post tributes but estranged son fails to congratulate.”
David, 51, shared a carousel of photographs with the caption: "My Pretty Lady is turning 15 today. You are the perfect daughter, sweet, kind & a beautiful human with the best personality just like daddy." The images ranged from a baby Harper strapped to his back during a hike to recent shots of the pair dancing together.
Victoria, 52, wrote: "I cannot even begin to express how much I love and adore you and how incredibly proud I am to be your mummy – it has been the greatest joy to see you blossom into a young lady." She described Harper as "kind, gentle, funny and beautiful soul, inside and out" and called her "my best friend".
Among the photos Victoria posted was a sweet snap of a tiny Harper with Brooklyn, a gesture that appeared to highlight the family's ongoing estrangement. The youngest Beckham brother, Cruz, 21, also shared a birthday message, saying: "Harper, I love you more than you know, happy 15th birthday xx."
The tension between Brooklyn and his family has been public for months. In recent weeks, Harper was photographed going to Brooklyn's home in Los Angeles after supporting her father at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. The teen was seen attempting to bring a letter to the door, which Brooklyn and Nicola share.
But a representative for the couple dismissed the visit as a "staged photo opportunity", noting that Brooklyn and Nicola were not home. They were in New York for the wedding of Nicola's brother, Will Peltz. The rep's statement effectively slammed the door on hopes of reconciliation.
As Harper enters her fifteenth year, the family's fractured picture – public tributes from parents and younger brother, but silence from the eldest – leaves the question of whether the bond with Brooklyn can be repaired hanging in the air.
