Stars turn out for Beckhams’ party

Stars from the world of showbusiness and football turned out in force today for a glittering pre-World Cup party hosted by Victoria and David Beckham.

The lavish, Japanese-themed bash at the couple’s imposing home, dubbed Beckingham Palace, in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, is reported to have cost £350,000.

Coverage of the event is believed to have been bought up by two glossy magazines and a television company, while all proceeds are due to go to children’s charity the NSPCC.

An NSPCC spokesman said: ‘‘We’re very grateful the NSPCC will be given the profits from the party being held by David and Victoria as they are long-term supporters of the charity and their work in the past has been invaluable.’’

England boss Sven Goran Eriksson headed the celebrities from the world of football.

Geoff Hurst, hero of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning side, arrived to pass on his experience to current national team players, Teddy Sheringham of Spurs, West Ham’s Joe Cole and Liverpool’s Danny Murphy.

They were joined by Beckham’s best-man at his wedding and Manchester United team-mate, Gary Neville, and the Fulham chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed, who flew in by helicopter.

Other sports stars included British tennis player Greg Rusedski, his wife, Lucy, and the snooker player Jimmy White.

Former footballer-turned-TV pundit Gary Lineker and his wife, Michelle, were joined by the broadcaster Des Lynam (correct) and Sir David Frost from the television industry.

Cilla Black, Sir Elton John, DJ and actor Goldie, the designer Vivienne Westwood, Joan Collins, tycoon Sir Richard Branson and TV chef Jamie Oliver also attended.

The smartly-attired guests showed they had heeded the ‘‘white tie and diamond’’ dress code.

Fans waiting at the gate cheered many of the guests as they arrived, but the biggest applause was for the TV presenters Ant and Dec, who have recorded the official England World Cup song.

It was reported guests would be served an Oriental banquet by Japanese staff wearing traditional outfits in the house and in its sprawling grounds.

Tenor Russell Watson and soul singer Beverley Knight were providing the entertainment while Radio One’s Dreem Teem would play Beckham’s favourite R & B and Garage tracks.

Around 300 fans of the Beckhams, many wearing England shirts and Manchester United tops, who lined the entrance to the home to get a glimpse of the guests, were kept back by metal barriers and more than a dozen police.

Earlier, Eriksson spoke of the side’s problems after Newcastle’s Kieron Dyer and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard were both injured in the last Premiership matches of the season.

The team flies out to Dubai tomorrow without either player. Both are widely regarded as crucial to the team’s chances in the competition in Japan and South Korea, which starts at the end of this month.