As Victoria Beckham turns 50, money can’t buy the gift for her intimate dinner party – and the special role Nicola Peltz will play on her big day, KATIE HIND reveals

When Victoria Beckham sits down at the table in the sumptuous London restaurant where she will next week celebrate her 50th birthday in the company of her closest friends, she will do so with a very broad smile on her face.

As a woman who for decades didn’t have the confidence to crack a laugh in public, this milestone is one of the most poignant of her life.

Finally, after years of worrying about what others thought of her and the global scrutiny she has endured, she simply doesn’t give a damn anymore.

Friends of the fashion designer, still affectionately known as Posh Spice, say she is ‘quietly content’ with her life.

And despite her wealth of around £365million, her favorite gift is one money can’t buy – having all her children in the same room together – something which, sources close to the family say, ‘is unlikely to ever happen again’.

For that reason alone, next Wednesday, the day of her birthday, is special. She is joined for a little ‘family day’ by her four children – some of whom fly in from America to watch her blow out her candles.

Brooklyn, 25, and his wife Nicola will fly 5,000 miles from Los Angeles to be by her side, as will her youngest son Cruz, 19, who has also moved there to further his music career. Romeo, 21, has cleared his diary and Harper, 12, their only daughter, will join when she finishes the school day.

“It’s going to be a small, intimate family gathering and it’s literally the best present she could get,” the friend said. ‘It will be close to their home in London. David has pulled a few surprises, but what Victoria really wants is to be surrounded by her loved ones.

‘The children are staying here for a few days, which Victoria loves, and they all want to join her for her posh dinner on Saturday night.’

The family is joined by a group of close friends for this. Although the guest list will be selective, I’m told to expect some ‘familiar names’ including her best friend Tana Ramsay and her husband Gordon.

Actress Eva Longoria is also expected to fly in from America, and ‘one or two’ of the Spice Girls might make an appearance. But, sources say, it won’t be a ‘circus’.

“The champagne will flow, so will the tequila, but it won’t be a big bash,” the friend said. “Despite what people think, Victoria is not a flamboyant, showy person and she doesn’t have crowds of pals, just special ones she wants to spend her big day with.”

For Victoria, however, there is one guest that it will really warm her heart to see – daughter-in-law Nicola Peltz.

Two years ago, the women were not on speaking terms following Brooklyn and Nicola’s wedding in April 2022, with Victoria and David both fearing they could lose Brooklyn to the feud.

Speculation as to the reason for the break-up was rife, but it appeared that trouble began after it emerged that Victoria did not have time to make Nicola’s wedding dress.

Instead, the bride wore Valentino – and later gave an interview in which she insisted her choice of designer wasn’t meant to be a slight against her future mother-in-law.

But today things could not be more different. In fact, the Mail can reveal that Nicola really sees Victoria as her second mother.

“Nicola comes from a large (extended) family and as such her mother has a lot of different children to look after,” says a friend. ‘Nicola has formed this beautiful bond with Victoria, Nicola is literally like her own daughter.

‘Repairing that fallout is something Victoria is immensely proud of and it brings her so much joy that she wants to be part of these celebrations. Having her there is a wonderful gift.’

As for the birthday girl’s outfit, there’s also good news for Victoria – she’ll almost certainly be out of her surgical boot.

She broke her foot after tumbling in the gym on Valentine’s Day and has since had to wear the ugly equipment while she recovers. The Mail has been told the break has been difficult to heal because she is so ‘active’.

As a result, David, 48, gave her a fun gift of a £300 KneeRover mobility bike, designed to ensure she takes the pressure off her left leg, giving it the best chance of being ready for her big day.

Victoria has been seen limping to and from fashion shows and dinners on crutches wearing one shoe – sometimes high heels – with the other in a boot.

While friends say she took her injury ‘very calmly’, they also insist she is determined to look her best in her 50s and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve to her celebrations with both feet in her trademark high heels.

“It’s been a really frustrating time for Victoria and she’s been seeing medical experts a lot recently to see how it’s progressing,” said a friend.

‘But at the moment she’s pretty sure she’ll be back in stilettos in time for her party. Victoria, and of course David, who has also been so invested in fixing it, have literally crossed everything.’

It would be the final piece of her 50th birthday jigsaw. In addition to mending her family rift with Brooklyn and Nicola, she is thrilled to have turned a financial corner with her fashion company.

In December, she revealed how she has turned a profit for the first time in 15 years – using the sale of an £890 clutch bag, a £30 eyeliner and a carefully orchestrated social media strategy where she can post make- tutorial videos on TikTok watched by millions. It is something she is said to be ‘very proud of’.

On July 4, Victoria and David will celebrate another huge milestone – their 25th wedding anniversary. They first got together when Victoria was in the Spice Girls and David was playing for Manchester United, and few thought it would last.

But despite some low points – including David’s alleged dalliance with personal assistant Rebecca Loos in 2004 while he was playing for Real Madrid – it has become one of the longest-lasting marriages in show business and there are plans for another bash of sorts.

Because today, friends say, their marriage is better than ever. As their combined 120 million Instagram followers can attest, the couple enjoy their time together, especially at weekends, in their converted barn in the Cotswolds Village of Great Tew.

Recently, Victoria posted a video of the former England captain changing a light bulb and zooming in on the bottom of him as she filmed him. He’s done the same to her, and while there were times before when she wouldn’t have been amused, now she couldn’t love it more.

“Victoria is of the opinion that she’s 50 and if her husband still loves her bottom, she’s happy,” I’m told.

‘That pretty much sums up their relationship. They are content and happy, they laugh a lot, which has been one of the keys to making it work. It wouldn’t be a lie to say that they are in a better place than ever before. And that pleases Victoria.’

She also feels blessed to still have both her parents, Tony and Jackie, as well as her parents-in-law, Ted and Sandra.

In short, her friends say, Victoria has come of age and her life has fallen apart.

“For so long she has felt so scrutinized and judged. And now it’s not about money for Victoria, but about satisfaction. She has finally become comfortable in her own skin, she doesn’t care what people think.

“For years people said she only had a fashion label because of David, but she’s proven that’s not the case and there’s a huge amount of pride.

She has found herself in both her professional and personal life. Something has really changed with her.’

Speaking on David’s Netflix documentary, Beckham, she told viewers how she now felt ‘at peace’.

‘I feel really satisfied now and I understand that you (David) feel satisfied now. When you were younger you were constantly hunting and there is an element of you passing the baton on and you want that for your children.’

Speaking of which, there’s another gift money can’t buy that would be the icing on Victoria’s birthday cake – becoming a grandmother.

Although she recently joked that she wasn’t quite ready for the next generation of Beckhams, as a hands-on mum of four, there’s nothing she and David could love more. So will it happen during her senior year?

“Brooklyn is obsessed with babies,” said a family friend. He was about 11 when Harper was born and he has loved her ever since. He wants to be a young father. So watch out for this place.’