Why fans keep asking… Where IS Brooklyn Beckham? He missed his dad’s pre-50th birthday bash in Miami – the eleventh time he hasn’t turned up to a family gathering in a year. So what’s the truth about a rumoured rift with brother Romeo?

As David and Victoria Beckham’s firstborn, Brooklyn has always been extraordinarily close to his parents.

In awe of his footballing legend father and supportive of his popstar-turned-fashion designer mother, for years they were a tight, affectionate unit, so much so it seemed that Brooklyn – nickname Buster – would never fly the nest.

Of course, all that changed when the now 26-year-old married beautiful American heiress Nicola Peltz in 2022.

After a bumpy start, with rumours swirling of a rift between the two most important women in Brooklyn’s life – his mother and his wife – Nicola and Victoria seemed to settle their differences and for two years everything appeared calm and convivial.

Now, however, eyebrows have been raised again after Brooklyn and Nicola were notably absent from a gathering in Miami this week to celebrate David’s impending 50th birthday.

While his three siblings were present, with brothers Romeo and Cruz bringing their girlfriends Kim Turnbull and Jackie Apostel along to the star-studded bash at Cipriani Downtown restaurant, Brooklyn and Nicola were in Los Angeles – 2,000 miles away but a mere four-hour hop in a private jet.

Sources close to the family cited ‘work commitments’ – Brooklyn is still trying to make his name in the food industry – and stressed that David and Victoria knew the pair wouldn’t be there.

But others suggest a new rift has opened up – with girlfriend trouble once again the reported cause.

This time, the ‘significant other’ said to be causing ructions is not Nicola, but Romeo’s new girlfriend Kim, 23.

Romeo, 22, ‘went public’ with the London-born model and DJ in December last year, but Brooklyn is believed to disapprove of the match, sparking tension between the brothers.

Brooklyn is said to know Kim through his good friend, Rocco Ritchie – Guy and Madonna’s son – whom she dated years ago.

When approached by the Mail, a source close to the Beckhams played down the rumours, calling them ‘silly’, but others say David and Victoria will be devastated by any friction between their beloved boys.

Brooklyn’s absence was particularly noticeable this week, not just because of the significance of David’s ‘big’ birthday, but also given the A-listers on the guest list: Brooklyn is known to love rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous.

But, feud or no feud, it is far from the first time he’s absented himself from big family occasions over the past year.