Sir David Beckham, 51, is collaborating with the King’s Foundation on a showpiece garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, reflecting his passion for gardening and countryside living. The former England captain, who owns a 26-acre farmhouse estate in Oxfordshire, has designed the Curious Garden with seven raised beds—a nod to his iconic shirt number—and a working beehive to celebrate his love of beekeeping.
Beckham, an ambassador for the King’s Foundation, said he hopes to inspire people to get outside into nature. The garden will also feature a rose named Sir David Beckham, with white blooms and a fragrance of banana, musk, nougat, clove and myrrh. Proceeds from sales will support the foundation.
PR expert Mayah Riaz described Beckham's shift to a countryside persona as a 'clever evolution' of his public image. 'Audiences seem far more drawn to authenticity, wellbeing and home comforts these days than the flashy side of celebrity culture,' she said, adding that he appears as an 'aspirational family man' rather than an untouchable superstar.
Beckham bought the Oxfordshire estate in 2016 without telling wife Victoria, but she has since embraced it. The couple enjoy quiet evenings with a glass of wine in the vegetable patch, and Victoria has praised the property as a sanctuary where she sleeps longer and reads.
The garden project comes amid ongoing media attention on the Beckham family, including Brooklyn Beckham's recent controversies. Riaz noted that the family is 'trying to protect their peace' behind the global brand.
