Beckhams want their intimate family photo offline

David and Victoria Beckham have ordered images of their leaked Christmas card to be removed from the internet.

The power couple had sent the photograph featuring their four children in bed to a select band of journalists, magazine and newspaper editors around the world.

But when one of them tweeted the festive image, the Beckhams' team requested that it be taken down immediately.

Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, nine, Cruz, five were captured sitting up in bed shirtless while their giggling little sister, five-month-old Harper, was also tucked in for the family snapshot.

The picture was first posted by Senior Fashion News Director of Teen Vogue magazine, Jane Keltner De Valle who captioned it, "Cutest thing about @victoriabeckham's xmas card? Photo cred on back that reads 'Picture by Daddy'."

It then spread across the internet like wildfire before Glamour magazine UK editor, Jo Elvin issued an apology for also posting it.

"I should point out, the Christmas card from the Beckhams is NOT for publication,'' she wrote. "It was private. My bad. Sorry, got swept up in adorableness.''

The family arrived in England last week from their base in Los Angeles and will be spending the holidays at their mansion, dubbed Beckingham Palace.

It is being reported that David is set to sign with French football team Paris Saint-Germain when his deal with LA Galaxy comes to an end.

The move would also be good for Victoria's clothing design business as she will be closer to one of the fashion capitals of the world.

- AAP