IT’S said a picture can paint a thousand words, and that’s exactly what Nicola Peltz Beckham did on Monday when her husband Brooklyn Beckham posted a snap of her unbelievable bikini body on Instagram.
But it wasn’t that drew focus in the picture, but her stance, protecting meek-looking husband who was crouching behind her.
It spoke volumes amid the backlash that has engulfed the pair this week, after they Brooklyn’s mum ’s recent 51st birthday.
Gushing messages to the former Spice Girl were sent on by Brooklyn’s brothers, and , as well as her adoring hubby, ex-England skipper David.
But it was crickets from the Peltz-Beckhams, who failed to post about the celebration.
Instead Brooklyn, 26, posted pictures of himself and his gorgeous 30-year-old wife living it up at music festival in wrapped around each other and kissing.
It’s a stark contrast to the year before, when on Victoria’s 50th birthday they both sent her public messages via Instagram.
While Posh has a by any standards, this still must have felt like a dagger.
not only looks phenomenal but oozes sex appeal – illustrating once and for all why she will always come first in Brooklyn’s affections.
While it was Brooklyn who posted the snap of he and Nicola online, the message it delivered was clear.
Reading between the lines, the defiant image seemed to say: “You can’t compete with this”; and “I’m the most important woman in his life now, deal with it.”;
There’s nothing subtle about it, in a world where everything is played out on social media, sending a clear signal with her “I’m the boss”; body language.
While both his mum and wife can give Brooklyn love and support, only one can give him sex which will win every time.
The battle between mothers and daughters in law over a son’s affections is as old as time and one I know only too well.
I know what Nicola’s masterplan likely is, as I’ve been in her shoes.
A few days before I got married to Brian, 53, nearly 20 years ago my mother-in-law, Irene, now 80, turned to me and said: “I don’t feel I’m gaining a daughter, just losing my son”;.
She then went on to suggest she could wear black to our wedding.
NICOLA'S MASTERPLAN
At the time I was hurt and furious. But I understand better now – she was grieving the fact that I’d replaced her as number one in his affections.
Because when the chips are down a man will choose his wife over his mum as she’s the one he shares a bed with – a powerful lure for most men.
There have been many occasions when Rene, who lives in Austria, tried to one up me with her son.
Once, she told me Brian would hate going to , where we’d earmarked for our family holiday, and we'd be better off in Austria seeing her.
I insisted we went to Croatia anyway and sent her this snap.
While I'm no , this was a smiley, happy picture of us that I wanted her to see.
She would also imply she knew him better than me – for example telling me he wouldn’t let me have cats.
I’m writing this with my rather rotund cat sitting smugly on the sofa next to me.
There have been loads of times when she’s tried to insist on us all going for a curry – knowing I hate it – and we’ve ended up going to the Italian I adore.
They’re trivial examples in the grand scheme of things – but little ways I’ve let it be known that I’m now the woman in his life who he listens to, and I wasn’t above overt displays of affection to ram the point home.
On some occasions I didn't hugely care about the outcome but I fought back anyway to set the principle that I wasn't going to be undermined. If anyone was it would be her.
I'm not hugely proud of that, but it felt important to set boundaries with Rene early on in the relationship.
Rene was used to telling Brian what to do, she's a strong character and I felt I should nip it in the bud otherwise we'd be doing things ‘her way' all the time.
Believe me, it is a competition with her, and one I will win every time.
And that’s the thing, most daughters-in-law will.
It’s something I’ve taken on board as my eldest son turns 18.
I’m yet to meet one of his girlfriends but if one becomes serious enough I know exactly what to do – never try to compete.
Because however sad it might make me feel, she’ll win for as long as the relationship lasts.
Instead I will bend over backwards to make her feel welcome. And if she carries on trying to compete I will wave every white flag I have – because then at least I’ll keep my son in my life.
The jury is out on how Victoria is reacting. She recently posted a picture of herself in a – one that she’d designed and Nicola wore to the premiere of her Lola, 14 months ago.
Was she saying she can wear it as well as Nicola? Or was it quite literally wearing a white flag to appease her and try to form a connection.
Or even an attempt at reminding Nicola of happier times?
If she’s sensible, it’s the latter.
Despite struggling with my mother-in-law, it’s Victoria I empathise with now.
The – for years it seemed as if nothing could break their impenetrable bond and Victoria reigned as the matriarch.
She must be devastated that someone has not only infiltrated their family but thrown a hand grenade in.
It’s even said that they might fail to turn up to David’s actual 50th birthday on May 2, they’ve already skipped the mini celebration in last month, citing Brooklyn’s work commitments.
Rumour has it that the first ripples of sourness happened even before Brooklyn and Nicola tied the knot in April 2022, when Nicola wore a Valentino dress instead of one designed by Posh.
It appeared to have been patched up with Nicola and Brooklyn very much present at family gatherings since, including Victoria’s 50th last year.
Who knows why there’s such a stark contrast this year. But I will say that there’s only one person who can finish it and that’s Victoria. All the time my mother-in-law tried to compete I dug in – feeling very strongly that her son had chosen me and she had to suck it up and respect his choice.
Nearly 20 years on I’m still very much here and have no plans for that to change.
I imagine Nicola feels exactly the same – she’s got her man and she is going to make sure she keeps him and is the number one woman in his life.
It may be a hard pill for Victoria to swallow – after all for the first 23 years of his life she was the one he turned to.
She clearly adores him. But it’s a pill she has to swallow for family harmony to be restored.
