Beckham's To Renew Marriage Vows
Tuesday, July 6, 2004

David and Victoria Beckham will renew their marriage vows today on their fifth wedding anniversary.

Britain’s most famous couple will recommit to their marriage this afternoon during an intimate religous ceremony at a luxury resort in Morocco.

They have just begun a secret two-week break in the North African paradise following England’s defeat in the Euro 2004 soccer tournament.

David and Victoria hope renewing their vows will put their troubled marriage back on track. It has been rocked to the core following claims of Becks’ adultery and a series of bitter rows.

They have even cancelled a promotion tour to launch “Brand Beckham” in America in favour of the make-or-break holiday.

The couple have asked a local minister to bless their marriage today in a concerted effort to put their woes behind them once and for all.

They have chosen today because it is exactly five years since the lavish wedding in Ireland – on “his and hers” thrones – that made them Britain’s alternative royal family.

A close friend of the couple revealed last night: “They believe the best way to heal the rifts are to be alone and together in paradise. What better way to celebrate their wedding anniversary than by renewing their wedding vows.”

Posh and Becks secretly jetted out to the exclusive Amanjena resort on the outskirts of Marrakesh on Thursday.

They arrived at the hotel with a security guard who is staying in the next-door apartment to them. Even before arriving at the idyllic venue they had asked hotel bosses to make sure a priest would be available today.

A hotel source revealed: “It was a special instruction. They wanted to know if our papa (the Moroccan term for priest) was available on Sunday, and we duly booked him.”

Staff were then told to prepare for a traditional Christian ceremony in the lavish grounds of the hotel.

On Friday David and Victoria were seen walking hand-in-hand through the hotel’s grounds. Then yesterday they left the hotel in a blacked-out limousine. It was then that David, known for his trendsetting fashion sense, revealed a huge surprise.

He stepped out of the limo into the burning heat dressed in a jellaba, a traditional desert garment of a long white gown and all-over white headscarf that covered everything but his eyes.

He even wore a grey scarf around his neck to cover his large new tattoo.

“He looked more like Lawrence of Arabia than a famous football player,” said one onlooker. “Maybe he should be renamed David of Arabia.” Victoria was happy to wander the market, which is crammed with street sellers, spice stalls and snake-charmers, in a black skirt and small vest top plus her trademark dark sunglasses.

The couple spent half an hour in Khalid’s Art Gallery where they bought several hundred pounds worth of Moroccan antiques. Store owner Mr Khalid said: “It was good to see Beckham in here – we have many famous visitors.”

The pair then wandered into a nearby courtyard called Caravan Siri, where local craftsmen worked on different handmade items. They bartered for a giant wrought-iron lantern costing 1,000 dirham (£60). The pair, flanked by a minder and a guide, then went into the heart of the crowded market, wandering from stall to stall looking at the clothing and leather items. They even looked at a sports stall selling replica football shirts of Moroccan players.

The couple’s guide who recently escorted Beckham’s Real Madrid team mate Raul through the ancient city ,described the history of the old city and took them into courtyards selling traditional paintings and leather footwear.

Western tourists visiting Marrakesh failed to recognise the famous pair as they shopped. But after more than an hour in the labyrinth of shops and narrow streets, local children began to crowd round. As word spread they were mobbed by local people as their chauffeur whisked them away from the market at around 12.30pm, when the temperature had soared to 44ºC.

One bystander: “We didn’t recognise Beckham because he was wearing white robes. You could only see his eyes but my friend spotted his wife and that’s when everyone went, ‘Ah, Beckham!’ ”'

Later the couple returned to their hotel to prepare for their big day but Posh went to the market again without David in the early evening.

The couple, who have left sons Brooklyn and Romeo behind, are staying in an exclusive maison at the hotel, the most luxurious villa available with private swimming pool and garden.

A close friend said: “David and Victoria may be the world’s most famous couple but they are real people and they have been through the mill.

“There has been the whole Rebecca Loos thing and being apart for so long since David went to Spain. Then there was Euro 2004 and all their rows.

“They needed to do something to put their romance back on track and this was perfect. They are able to spend more quality, private time together than they have in years.”

Brooklyn and Romeo will fly out with Victoria’s parents to join their mum and dad later this week. The family will return to Britain next week, in time for David to jet back to Madrid for pre-season soccer training on July 14.

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