David Beckham finally gets his day at Buckingham Palace as daughter Harper celebrates sixth birthday — but Fergie sparks fury by hosting bash behind Queen’s back
SARAH Ferguson was blasted yesterday after throwing a party at Buckingham Palace for David Beckham’s daughter Harper — behind the Queen’s back.
The tea party, days before Harper’s sixth birthday, was hosted by Fergie in ex-husband Prince Andrew’s private suite while the Queen was in Scotland.
Beckham’s online pictures of the party yesterday sparked a backlash.
One mum said: “Party at Bucks Palace? Don’t think they’d let me do that.”
Several people said it was wrong that Beckham should be able to use his celebrity and royal friendships to claim privileges denied ordinary families.
Royal watchers claimed the party had been deliberately timed to coincide with a visit to Scotland by the Queen and Prince Philip.
And there was said to be “discontent” among Palace staff because it was held in Prince Andrew’s private suite.
A Royal insider said: “It’s very surprising Fergie would host a celebrity party at Buckingham Palace.
“The Queen and Prince Philip are away up in Scotland. He would never allow her to do something like this in the house when he was there — but the Queen still has a soft spot for her.
“I can’t remember an occasion when she actually hosted something at Buckingham Palace.
“So it’s an extraordinary situation, especially seeing there doesn’t appear to be a charity involved.”
Royal sources said the party could not have happened without Prince Andrew’s permission.
Beckham, whose desperation for a knighthood was revealed in leaked emails, yesterday proudly shared pictures from the event with his millions of Instagram followers.
One shot shows Harper in a Cinderella outfit posing with Eugenie, 27.
Philip's fury at Duchess
FERGIE has an uneasy relationship with the Royal Family — especially Prince Philip.
It is said the Duke of Edinburgh cannot stand to be in her company and continues to blame her for the break-up of her marriage to Andrew.
Relations were further strained in 2010 when Fergie was snared by an undercover reporter offering access to Prince Andrew for £500,000.
It is also said Philip is irritated by the fact that Fergie and Andrew live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park despite being divorced.
Philip was also reportedly “aghast” after spotting Fergie beside her ex-husband at Royal Ascot in 2015.
On a picture of him hugging Harper in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace, Beckham wrote: “Happy Birthday to our special little young lady. Such a special girl who brings so much joy and happiness into our lives.
“Happy 6th birthday (I can’t believe your 6 already) have the most amazing day we love you pretty lady.”
In the picture showing Harper as Cinderella alongside Eugenie and five other girls, Beckham wrote: “Lucky Harper meeting a real life princess at the Palace.”
The posts infuriated some members of the public — who took to social media to vent their anger.
David Doyle said: “Harper Beckham at Buckingham Palace? Pass the sick bag. What about Grenfell victims who have nothing?”
Amber Dizz said: “Harper Beckham had her sixth birthday party at the royal palace with a real life princess. My sixth birthday was at McDonald’s with (fake) Ronald McDonald.”
Alex Boyd wrote: “Harper Beckham had her sixth birthday party at Buckingham Palace.
"What happened to soft play centres then having sandwiches and a fruit shoot?”
Beckham later posted a third Palace picture of himself with Harper and his mum Sandra with a comment defending the jaunt.
He said: “Just to be clear this wasn’t the Palace opening the gates for Harper’s birthday party — this was a tea party where us and other guests were invited.
“So it was a beautiful thing to do with my mum, Harper plus a few school friends. We were honored to be able to there. Beautiful tea party.”
Royal sources also swiftly insisted the Beckhams did not get a tour around the State Apartments — and said the party costs were paid for by Prince Andrew not the taxpayer.
A Palace spokesman said: “From time to time members of the Royal Family who reside at royal residences invite guests to visit them privately.”
Victoria Beckham, who got an OBE at the Palace earlier this year, was not at the party because she was working.
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A Beckham insider said: “Harper and other children were individually invited by the Duchess of York to a tea party at Buckingham Palace. She invites people to the Palace all the time and other children from her school were there.”
In February, websites ran leaked emails in which Beckham called the honours committee “unappreciative c***s” after he was overlooked.
The Sun later documented Beckham’s use of social media to pursue a knighthood — including a series of gushing posts about the monarchy.
David and Victoria have always enjoyed being linked to the royals, famously embracing the nickname of their Hertfordshire mansion, which was dubbed Beckingham Palace.
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