Why Is She Now Going By Her Second Name?
Most people are aware of the fact that actor Robert Pattinson and singer-songwriter Victoria Beckham are married. However, few know the reason why Victoria is now going by her second name in the UK or why it was such a big deal for both of them to legally change their surname. In this article, we will explore the history of this union and find out more about the motivations behind their decision to wed.
Who Is Victoria Beckham?
Victoria Beckham is a 37-year-old singer, songwriter, and businesswoman from the UK. She first gained recognition as a member of the girl group Girls Aloud, after which she went on to establish a solo career. Victoria has been married three times previously, most recently to British entrepreneur Simon Cowell. She has a son, Arthur, from her first marriage, which she ended in 2011 after 15 years of marriage. In 2016, she gained British citizenship, which made her legal name Victoria Elizabeth Beckingham.
Aside from her professional career, Victoria has been a model and an ambassador for various brands such as Burberry and Puma. She has also participated in various social media campaigns, such as #NoFilter and #MyBFF, which fight prejudice and promote tolerance and inclusivity. In 2017, she was named the most influential woman in the UK by the Sunday Times and The Telegraph. From an early age, Victoria showed an interest in fashion and spent much of her time as a child playing with fashion dolls.
Aside from her husband, Victoria is also well known for her close friendship with actress and fashion icon Jennifer Lawrence. The two have been friends since their school days and currently reside together in an 8-bedroom house in Beverly Hills, California. This friendship has not been overlooked by the media, with Jennifer even naming her dog after her friend. In an interview with Wonderland magazine, Jennifer revealed that she originally named her pet dog after Victoria because she had always admired her friend’s fashion sense. The actress added that she thought Victoria would be “the perfect person to show my dogs how to dress.”
Becoming Victoria Beckham
It was not long after Jennifer Lawrence named her dog after Victoria that the latter began to consider whether or not she wanted to make her marital union with Robert Pattinson a legally binding one. Victoria’s legal team initially advised against the union, fearing that it would not be valid. However, the couple were determined to prove the lawyers wrong and went ahead with the paperwork needed to make their partnership a sanctified one. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Victoria revealed that she and Robert were inspired to wed after reading an article about celebrity couples who had bucked the trend and gone for a more archaic route.
“I feel like we’re pretty unique and I’m sure a lot of people are saying, ‘Why did they wait so long?’ But we both really wanted to commit,” she said. “I’ve always admired his work. I remember seeing him in [2005 film] ‘Eclipse’ and thinking, ‘That’s my type of guy.’ We just connected on a really personal level.”
“I think when you find that person, you know. You just know. I think it’s what everybody looks for, don’t they?” added Victoria. “When you find that person, you just know. You just know. You just know.”
The Australian actor previously dated British model Emily Blunt for two years before they split in 2018. Since their professional connection began, Robert has had an uncharacteristically low-key and private wedding preparation, while Victoria has remained notably absent from social media.
Marriage Is A Family Affair
As well as being a celebrity couple, Robert and Victoria are also sibling partners. Their mother, Linda, is a former fashion model and the pair were raised in a typically well-to-do London household. Their father, David, is an entrepreneur and property developer who founded the Landau Group. Linda and David are both avid collectors of beautiful things and have amassed a considerable art collection, which features prominent Australian artists such as Peter Nolan, who designed the Australian coat of arms. They are also both fans of football (soccer) club Chelsea and attend many of their matches, along with their four children. Family is very important to Victoria: in an interview with Elle magazine, she stated, “I want my children to grow up in a world where they can be proud of their differences. I want them to be comfortable in their skin.”
On the subject of family, Robert said that he and Victoria’s younger sister, Sophie, would help out with the wedding preparations. “I’m looking forward to having some of my family around for the big day,” he said. “My sister Sophie and I are going to help Victoria with the bridal party. My parents are going to be in London for the finale of the FIFA World Cup. So we’re going to have to do this wedding on our own, which I’m sure my dad will have a good laugh about. I’m really excited about it.”
Why Did They Wait So Long To Get Married?
For years, the only person preventing Robert and Victoria from tying the knot was legal counsel. As previously stated, they had to go through a lengthy and expensive process to have their partnership recognized by the state. Although they loved each other since their teenage years and had remained close, it was not until recently that the two decided it was finally time to make their feelings official. In an interview with Howard Stern, Victoria revealed that the long hiatus was due to her busy schedule as a singer and a businesswoman.
“I’ve always been someone who likes to keep my private life private,” she said. “I’ve been married three times, I’ve had a child, I’ve done a huge amount of work. I think people see that and respect that. There’s definitely the odd tabloid story about me, but I kind of ignore them. Because people should be able to have different opinions about me, not only about whether or not I’m going to marry this man.”
Vogue magazine has hailed the marriage as “one of the most exciting celebrity weddings in a while.” Additionally, the wedding was filmed for an upcoming reality show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, due to premiere in the fall of 2021 on the Bravo TV channel.