Romeo Beckham celebrated his 23rd birthday with several members of his immediate family at a private dinner in central London, but his older brother Brooklyn Beckham did not attend.
The party took place at Aki, a high-end Japanese restaurant in central London that has been described as so exclusive it does not open until Sept. 23. Guests on the night included parents David Beckham, 50, and Victoria Beckham, 51; younger brother Cruz Beckham, 20, and Cruz’s girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30; and sister Harper, 14. Romeo arrived wearing a black leather jacket and was joined by friends as well as family for what a source close to him called “a lovely, low-key night to celebrate Romeo.”
A person close to the family told the Daily Mail that the gathering was intended to give Romeo “a special night to remember.” The same report said Brooklyn, 26, and his wife Nicola Peltz, 30, were not present. Family sources have told media outlets they do not expect Brooklyn and Peltz to attend some future family events, and the absence was described by one report as leaving “an element of sadness amongst some of the guests.”
Organizers kept the celebration relatively low-key and private, with attendees reportedly seated in a reserved area of the restaurant. Observers noted that Jackie Apostel wore a small black dress and that some guests compared her look to that of Victoria Beckham.
Romeo Beckham is one of four children of former England captain David Beckham and fashion designer Victoria Beckham. He has occasionally appeared in public at family events over the years; this dinner was presented by those close to him as a personal celebration among relatives and friends.
The family has previously staged public and private gatherings for milestones and holidays. This most recent dinner at Aki followed media attention around the Beckhams' public profiles and personal lives, but attendees and spokespeople have framed the event as focused on Romeo's birthday rather than broader family matters.
Representatives for the Beckhams and for Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The restaurant Aki has generated interest for its exclusivity and limited opening schedule. Guests at Friday’s dinner were reported to have enjoyed a menu of Japanese cuisine in a membership-style setting, according to accounts of the evening. The celebration concluded without public statements from the family beyond the comments attributed to a source close to Romeo.