Victoria Beckham defends 'very traditional' approach to raising children amid family rift rumors

Victoria Beckham says she and David Beckham maintain a 'very traditional' approach to parenting, pushing back on rumors of a family rift that have circulated in recent years. In an October issue of Elle, the former Spice Girl described their household as focused on togetherness and discipline, saying, 'We’re a very traditional family, much more than I think people would realize.'

Beckham said she and David have long sought to keep family time central, noting that dinners often happened at 6 p.m. when the children were younger, even if it meant she would later return to the office. 'I’ve always tried to be the best mom and wife that I can be,' she said, adding that the family 'supports each other' and 'shows up for each other' at every step. She emphasized that it’s healthy for children to see both parents work and pursue their dreams, arguing that 'Working makes me the best version of me.'

Beckham recalled a backstage moment after her fashion show that underscored the family’s investment in her career. She described the scene when Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, Harper, and David came backstage after her exit, noting the 'pinch-me moment' when she saw their pride firsthand. 'The looks on their faces when they approached me—it was a real pinch-me moment, because I saw how proud they were.' She reiterated that the family celebrates shared work as a bond rather than a burden.

Discussing the evolution of parenting as the children grow older, Beckham described it as the couple’s 'next chapter.' She said the kids are finding their own passions, and even Harper, then 13, has her own friendship group and interests. 'Even Harper, who is 13, has her friendship group, she loves to do her own thing, and we’re super, super close but it definitely feels like that next chapter of our lives together,' she noted. 'We’ve never had an enormous amount of staff... We do have nannies and we do have our parents, who have been amazing. But you do feel like you’re juggling.'

Rumors of a rift, however, have persisted in tabloid and entertainment coverage. A People magazine source described 'tensions between Brooklyn and Nicola' but stressed that the relationship is not beyond repair, and said the family remains 'hurt and disappointed that he’s now playing no part in family life.' The Beckhams have publicly denied significant strains between Victoria and David and Brooklyn and Nicola, even as Brooklyn and Nicola were noticeably absent from events such as David’s 50th birthday in May and Brooklyn’s vow renewal in August.

Nicola Peltz addressed the talk of a feud in a 2022 interview, explaining why she wore a Valentino gown to her wedding rather than a dress designed by Victoria Beckham. 'I was going to wear Victoria Beckham and I really wanted to, and then a few months down the line, she realized that her atelier couldn't do it, so then I had to pick another dress,' Nicola recalled in a joint interview with Brooklyn.

In Vogue Australia last year, Victoria Beckham spoke about 25 years of marriage and the sense of pride in her family. She described a Corsica vacation with several of the children and praised the kids for their 'great, kind, sweet, humble, funny, hardworking' qualities, saying balancing family life with personal and professional goals remains a complex achievement.

Beckham has stressed that the family relies on support from relatives rather than a lavish staff. 'We’ve never had an enormous amount of staff... But you do feel like you’re juggling,' she acknowledged, underscoring the realities of balancing work, home life and the demands of a high-profile brand.

While controversies continue to swirl, Victoria and David Beckham describe their family as a closed loop of mutual support. They view the coming years as a phase in which the children will pursue their own paths while staying connected to the family they’ve built together. Fox News Digital’s Ashley Hume contributed to this report.