Sir David Beckham is said to have followed in the footsteps of King Charles in order to "avoid the ire" of Victoria Beckham. The former England captain became the first non-royal to guest edit an edition of Country Life magazine this month.

The 50-year-old shared an insight into his life in the Cotswolds, where the likes of Guy Ritchie and Jeremy Clarkson are among his famous neighbours. David is said to have developed a "deep affection" for the countryside since moving to his 26-acre estate in Chipping Norton. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid ace says he had been reading Country Life for "most of his life" before being asked to guest edit the publication.

And, while deciding what to include in the release, he is said to have made one big decision to avoid risking the wrath of wife Victoria.

According to the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle column, David's decision to include former Spice Girl Victoria in the "girls in pearls" feature could have been inspired by a similar decision made by King Charles.

The columnist wrote: "David Beckham, the first non-royal to guest edit Country Life, avoids the ire of Lady Beckham by choosing her (and himself) in country tweeds for the 'girls in pearls' slot.

"The King, guest-editing in 2013, kept Her Indoors onside by choosing Queen Camilla as his gal of the week. Repeating the exercise in 2018 he opted not to have one at all.

"Camilla, editing in 2022, bypassed the eligible gals and chose her Jack Russells, Bluebell and Beth. Pedigree chums!"

David, who grew up in East London, says he developed an affinity for the countryside after spending time with his grandparents in East Sussex. Speaking to Country Life, he said: "My grandparents lived their whole lives at Seven Sisters in East Sussex, so they were more in the countryside.

"We used to go every weekend like clockwork. On Saturday morning, my mum would bundle me and my sisters (Lynne and Joanne) into the car and we'd go to spend the day with them."

He says his maternal grandfather, Joe, is the one who inspired him to get into gardening, admitting neither of his own parents had a green finger. "Nobody in my family loved gardening, apart from Granddad Joe, who would come to our house every Sunday to tend to the roses and, when he left, it would all look perfect," David explained.

David's life in rural Oxfordshire is a far cry from the glitz and glamour of his playing career. He played 115 times for England as well as representing the likes of Paris Saint Germain, LA Galaxy and AC Milan.

He began dating Victoria in 1997, proposing a year later. The couple tied the knot in 1999 at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland.

They share children Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper together.