Lavish Christmas bash for 'UK royals' the Beckhams

British actress Liz Hurley arrives at the christening of Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham. Picture / Reuters

LONDON - Britain's "alternative royal family" -- Victoria and David Beckham -- hosted a lavish but much-derided Christmas party on Thursday to christen their sons in the grounds of their "Beckingham Palace" home.

The England soccer captain and his pop star wife welcomed a Who's Who of British celebrities to the evening ceremony at a refurbished chapel in the fake ruins of a rural mansion.

Close friend and singer Elton John was first to arrive, followed by actress Liz Hurley -- albeit showing slightly more cleavage than the invitation had demanded of guests.

Three of Victoria's fellow Spice Girls turned up, fuelling speculation of only the second-ever reunion of all five original members of the once top-earning British girl group.

Other early guests included tennis star Greg Rusedski with his wife Lucy, and artist Sam Taylor-Wood with her gallery-owning husband, Jay Jopling.

Media said no expense was spared, with butlers set to serve guests a six-course meal after the service by a Church of England minister.

"It will, in true Beckham fashion, be an absurdly over-the-top event," wrote the Daily Mail, which like other tabloids had a large two-page spread on the preparations.

David Beckham -- who famously sat with Victoria on thrones when they married in 1999 -- was said to have scoffed at reports the event would cost 2,500 pounds a head.

"It will be much more than that!" he assured friends, according to the Mail.

John, and his partner David Furnish, are to be godfathers to Beckham boys Brooklyn, 5, and 2-year-old Romeo, a spokesman told Reuters.

"MODEST ATTIRE"

Short of news during the pre-Christmas lull, celebrity-obsessed papers took delight in mocking the Beckhams.

The Daily Express said the pregnant Victoria -- also known as "Posh Spice" -- insisted on "modest attire" for the event.

"Pregnant Victoria is said by one guest to be feeling a little insecure about her figure and doesn't want to be literally overshadowed by displays of decolletage that could have someone's eye out," it said.

"And yes, that does mean you, Liz Hurley."

For the Beckhams, the event was clearly meant to put a gloss on an otherwise miserable year.

Victoria has been mercilessly taunted by British media for her stuttering singing career, while David has been slammed for mediocre performances for both England and Real Madrid.

And kiss-and-tell revelations by David's alleged lovers during a lonely period in Madrid rocked their marriage.

"The event is seen as an attempt by the couple to show the world that their marriage is back on track and that 'brand Beckham' still has global appeal," the Mail said.

While the ceremony was to be Christian, there were also Buddhist shrines in the grounds.

Various papers reprinted one of David Beckham's most-mocked comments to an interviewer about first son Brooklyn.

"I definitely want him to be christened, but I don't know into what religion yet."

- REUTERS