On the eve of Brooklyn Beckham‘s 27th birthday, whispers of “will they, won’t they” filled the pop culture airwaves as onlookers waited to see how the famous family would react to their son’s milestone in the wake of his detachment from what he labelled the “Beckham brand”.

Despite the hot sauce founder’s clear message of no reconciliation, David and Victoria broke their silence yesterday and posted tributes to their eldest child on social media, sharing throwback pictures of Brooklyn as a young boy. 

Blazoned across the vintage snaps were words of love and well-wishes, with David penning: “27 today. Happy Birthday Bust, we love you x,” while Victoria emphasised: “Happy 27th birthday, Brooklyn, I love you so much”.

Brooklyn is believed to have blocked his parents and family on social media, so he won’t have seen the tributes unless shown by a third party. He did, however, reshare his wife’s posts to him that included similar messages of love and a display of doughnuts with candles.

 

While the fallout continues and hopes of an olive branch swirl around one of the world’s most famous families, HELLO! consulted an expert on what the Beckhams’ birthday posts might be telling us about the grief they are feeling following the loss of a relationship with their firstborn. 

Victoria, David and Brooklyn Beckham© Instagram / David BeckhamVictoria and David Beckham posted photos to their social media in celebration of their son’s birthday
How does the loss of a connection with a child affect parents?

Following Brooklyn’s public denouncement of his parents and bombshell remarks about a childhood riddled with anxiety, David and Victoria have been shut out of the 27-year-old’s life he shares with his wife, Nicola Peltz, in Los Angeles. 

Immediately after his words were released on social media, the rest of the Beckham clan continued business as usual, supporting each other at various fashion shows and events, putting on a united front. But how must the parents have really felt being so publicly shunned by their own child?

HCPC-registered Senior Education and Child Psychologist Dr Sasha Hall, who has over 15 years of experience, told HELLO!: “When a relationship with a child breaks down, it can be deeply painful. Parents often feel sadness, worry, helplessness and sometimes resentment. Losing contact can feel like being shut out from a vital part of their lives and from the identity they have as a parent.”

Parents are just somebody else’s grown-up children, trying to do their best.

Dr Sasha Hall

She continued: “The conflict rarely comes from a single event. For the child, there may be a lifetime of perceived grievances, moments when they felt overlooked or hurt. Parents can struggle to respond without feeling blamed for the choices they made while doing their best.

“There is also a social layer, where parents worry how others may judge them, even when they have acted with love and care. Many parents feel their child does not yet understand the challenges of raising children. Parents are just somebody else’s grown-up children, trying to do their best.” 

Brooklyn's birthday comes just weeks after his feud with his parents David and Victoria went public (pictured in 2019)© SOPA Images/LightRocket via GettBrooklyn’s birthday comes just weeks after his feud with his parents David and Victoria went public (pictured in 2019)
A feeling that mirrors grief and bereavement 

The former footballing legend and his ex-Spice Girls wife may not be grieving the death of a child, but according to the child psychologist, a breakdown of a relationship in such a way as this one can often stimulate the same feelings in parents as they lose their “identity”.

She explained: “Parents can experience a sense of grief similar to bereavement. The child is physically present in the world but absent from the relationship, sometimes called ‘ambiguous loss’. This can bring shock, longing, sadness and ongoing hope for reconciliation.

“Unlike death, there is no clear social recognition of the loss, so parents may process it privately. The mixture of grief and hope can be exhausting, especially when they feel pressure to maintain appearances or manage public perceptions.” 

In the case of David and Victoria, Dr Sasha felt their action of wishing Brooklyn well on his birthday could be their way of “coping by maintaining a connection in a way that feels safe and manageable”. 

The child is physically present in the world but absent from the relationship, sometimes called ‘ambiguous loss’. This can bring shock, longing, sadness and ongoing hope for reconciliation.

Dr Sasha Hall

She added: “It could also be a way of demonstrating that their love is unconditional, regardless of any past grievances, tension, or current distance. Public recognition of family milestones may signal that the bond is still important to them, even if direct communication is limited.

“These gestures may reflect the emotional challenge of navigating a strained relationship. For parents in the public eye, the added pressure of appearances can make this even more complicated. Overall, their behaviour may show a combination of hope, resilience, and a desire to preserve the parental bond despite difficulties.” 

The expert also touched on Brooklyn’s age and revealed why his getting older may be adding to their sense of hurt and worry. 

Brooklyn is likely to be celebrating with his wife Nicola Peltz (pictured in 2025)© Getty Images for VogueBrooklyn celebrated with his wife Nicola Peltz (pictured in 2025)

“With adult children, autonomy adds uncertainty, and choices can have bigger consequences. Parents may worry about missing important life events, including future grandchildren. 

“Regret is common, even when they know they did their best. The parental bond remains strong, and hope for reconciliation often continues, meaning the cycle of grief can last for many years.” 

Cruz’s plea for reconciliation 

On the day of his big brother’s birthday, Cruz was spotted out and about with his girlfriend, Jackie Apostel. When questioned, he revealed that he was hopeful for a reunion with Brooklyn in the future, something the expert revealed was common with siblings “caught between loved ones”.

Cruz's brother Brooklyn was absent from the party amid the ongoing family feud © Justin Goff Photos/Getty ImagesBrooklyn’s siblings have also been affected by the feud

She concluded: “Siblings can also feel the impact of family conflict. They may experience sadness, worry or guilt, and sometimes frustration at being caught between loved ones. 

“Even if they are not directly involved in the primary dispute, siblings can grieve the loss of closeness with a brother or sister and may hope for healing and reconnection over time.” 

Meet the expert – Dr Sasha Hall

Dr Sasha Hall is an HCPC-registered Senior Education and Child Psychologist who has over 15 years of experience in the field and is a mother herself. 

Dr Sasha Hall © Emma Pharaoh