David Beckham and Katherine Jenkins sit inches from each other after awkward clashes and affair rumour-Joel Harley-Entertainment – Metro

Former rivals David Beckham and Katherine Jenkins had a Wimbledon run-in (Picture: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)

David Beckham and Katherine Jenkins have had an awkward encounter at Wimbledon – sitting only inches away from each other at Wimbledon following years of awkward clashes and a rumoured affair.

The football legend, 49, and the singer, 44, share a checkered past after he criticised her receiving an OBE in 2018.

In a leaked e-mail to his advisor, the former England captain is said to have complained: ‘Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops plus taking coke.’

Classical singer Katherine was presented an OBE at Buckingham Palace that year for her contributions to music and charity – including supporting the troops on the front lines.

Things have remained frosty between the pair in the years which followed, with David reportedly offering no apology for his remarks.

Fast-forward to now, the pair found themselves seated close together in the royal box at Wimbledon, where David is a regular attendee of the tournament.

David and Katherine were sat only inches away from each other (Picture: Shutterstock)

The pair didn’t let their rivalry get in the way of a fun day out (Picture: Getty)

David’s cruel words came six years after rumours of an affair between the two – hotly denied by Katherine, who took to X (then Twitter) to refute the allegations.

In August 2012, Katherine wrote: ‘Dear Twitter friends, I’ve read some horrible rumours on here & want u 2 know I absolutely deny I’ve had an affair with David Beckham.

‘The rumours are very hurtful, untrue & my lawyers tell me actionable,’ she said.

David also denied the affair. His PR released a statement at the time, telling Glamour UK that there was ‘not one jot of truth’ to the rumours.

Katherine chatted with Pointless host Alexander Armstrong during the event (Picture: Shutterstock)

David attended today’s Wimbledon match with mum Sandra, 75, where they were then sitting – just in front of Katherine, who was with her husband Andrew Levitas, 46.

As the tournament got underway, Katherine could be seen chatting to Pointless host Alexander Armstrong, 54, who was seated on her other side.

David, meanwhile, rubbed shoulders with national treasure and fellow David Sir David Attenborough, 98.

David shared a moment with Sir David Attenborough (Credits: John Walton/PA Wire)

In a star-studded gathering, the event was also attended by the likes of Myleene Klass, Kirsty Gallacher and Sir Cliff Richard.

Katherine arrived at the event hand-in-hand with her husband of 10 years, both dressed in white – her wearing a long white gown, him dressed in a white blazer and shirt.

The songstress married filmmaker Andrew in 2014 and the pair share two children together: Aaliyah Reign Levitas, eight, and Xander Robert Selwyn Levitas, six.

Katherine was joined by husband Alexander Levitas at the event (Picture: PA Wire)

If things are still chilly between Katherine and footballer David, that’s because he never issued any further comment on his remarks.

Katherine told The Sun at the time: ‘It’s obviously disappointing. I’ve never heard anything from them about it.

‘You just think, “Aw, I wasn’t doing anything.” To get caught up in that wasn’t pleasant. I don’t know why again, that was aimed at me.

‘I also don’t feel the need to defend this, by the way. I know what I’ve done and when I got the OBE it was given to me for music, and for charity,’ she finished.

The diva has previously admitted to using the drug, but turned her life around when she signed her first record deal aged 23.

The ball’s in your court, David.

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