Sun, Stories, and the Beckhams
Lucy Hawkins chats to Ted Beckham & Hilary Meredith-Beckham
Tucked away on the sun-drenched south-east coast of Mallorca, Ted Beckham and his wife, Hilary Meredith-Beckham, have carved out a peaceful Mediterranean retreat that blends relaxation, family memories, and a touch of glamour. In an exclusive conversation, the couple opens up about their love for the island, their bond with David Beckham, Victoria Beckham and their grandchildren, and how a chance meeting led to their lasting romance.
By Lucy Hawkins
12/06/25
I recently had the joy of spending time with Ted and Hilary Meredith-Beckham near their second home on Mallorca’s beautiful south-east coast. Under the warmth of the island sun, we shared hours of easy conversation—and I have to say, it was truly a delight. Here’s what they had to say about their love of the island, David, Victoria and family, and the story of how they found each other.
Ted: I’ve always loved Spain, the people are great. We went to Figuera’s opera festival where they come in on boats at night. Figuera is like a little fjord so the echo and the acoustics are unbelievable.
Hilary: And it’s still a little fishing village, there’s fishermen mending their nets and you just don’t see that normally.
Ted: That’s what I like, Spain is my second home now. We go to Paris for Victoria’s fashion shows and we go skiing…Well I don’t. (ski)
Hilary: He tends to spa, bar and après ski. (laughs)
T: And I have a swim. I’m not a cold water person, I love it when it’s warm. Where was that place we went to, the one with the plunge pool?
H: Oh yes, for my birthday last year we went to stay at Cap Rocat in Palma. Oh my goodness, it’s one of my favourite hotels. We went down there and they take you on golf buggies to the beautiful restaurant…
T: Yeah but no…
H: I haven’t got to that yet. (both laughing)
T: We went to reception and they said your room’s not ready yet so leave your bags, and we went down to the swimming pool, didn't we?
H: We got the golf buggy down and the driver started talking to Ted about football and…
T: And he said, ‘I’m a Real Madrid supporter’, and I said, ‘Oh yeah, my son played for them…’ and I thought, ‘Oh no, I shouldn’t have said that.’ And he said, ‘Would I know him?’ and I said, ‘Oh, I don’t think so.’ And then he went quiet and then he went, ‘Who is he?’ and I've told him it's David Beckham and he went, ‘No!’, I said, ‘Yeah.’ And he went ‘No no no’. So I showed him a photo and that was it, obviously now he’s my best friend.
H: We had this absolutely exquisite lunch in their restaurant and then we got the golf buggy to the room and they started escorting us to this separate room…
T: And we’re like, what’s this?
H: They took us up this little pathway and I thought, ‘I don’t want this, this is way too expensive.’ I said, ‘Excuse me, I don’t want this.’ And she said, ‘ VIP.’ and I said ‘What?’ All because of this conversation with the golf buggy man. We got there and the room’s up on the top of the cliffs with this beautiful infinity pool…
T: Oh it was gorgeous.
H: We couldn’t believe it, it was absolutely stunning. The staff left and of course you just strip off and jump in the pool and we were swimming around with nothing on in the pool (laughing) and we heard, ‘Hello, hello!’ and we thought ‘Oh my god no.’ And this guy arrived with champagne on a tray and he said, ‘Would you like it by the pool?’ and I went, ‘No! It’s fine over there, thank you.’ (everyone laughing)
Lucy: How long have you been coming to Mallorca?
H: I first came to Mallorca with my parents when I was about 6 and just absolutely loved it.
I love little islands. I was a holiday rep in Ibiza in the early 90’s but it closed down in winter, so when I was looking to buy on the Balearic Islands, Mallorca had flights throughout the year and I absolutely love winter here. So I found my house (near the south-east coast) 21 years ago. It has a garden with a small olive grove as well, we've had lots of great summers here. The restaurants are wonderful.
T: My favourite is a place called El Campo. The two guys that own it are just the nicest guys. I like places where you feel comfortable when you walk in and they come up to give you a cuddle.
H: There’s another one in the countryside called Son Terrassa which is my favourite restaurant. We call it the sunset restaurant, it's very rustic.
There are some great ones near Cala d’Or, Na Petra and Can Martina. Also Es Bergant and Caracola, very Mallorquin and also a great beach bar. You can end up having a late lunch staying there until 6 o'clock.
T: It’s lovely. I've been to some places, but this little island is just fantastic.
H: The thing about the island is you get all the little bays and the water is so clear.
Lucy: Okay, tell me how you met.
H: Well in hindsight now I think I was set up. (laughs) I was a trustee of a home for veterans and a lot of them served in D-Day, they're fantastic guys, ex SAS. I was phoned one evening to say would I come and show this VIP around and I said, ‘Well actually I can’t, can you ask another trustee?’ They phoned back and said they couldn’t find anyone else. So I said, ‘Ok, I’ll do it.’ I get there and this VIP is late…
T: ‘VIP’ I can’t understand it…
H: Which really annoyed me (that he was late). Anyway, he arrives, it’s Ted, and at first I thought he's got a really kind face. That was my first impression, and then I showed him around and he spent a lot of time with the veterans and soldiers.
T: I enjoyed it. I've got so much respect for them.
H: So after we did the tour someone said, ‘Ted’s got to get to the football ground for United, could you drive him there?’ And I thought, well no, this is way beyond the call of duty (laughs)! Can't he get a taxi? But he couldn’t because evidently it was a big game.
So we get in the car and the traffic is horrendous and some guy starts beeping his horn ferociously at me. I'm doing nothing wrong and Ted says, ‘Oh don't worry, it’s only Gary Neville.’
I had no idea who Gary was, he’d just seen Ted in the car with some blonde in a Jag (Hilary). So I get to United’s ground and as he's getting out some guy started taking photographs of us. We say goodbye and I think nothing else of it. About a month later our mutual friends said do you fancy coming out for a meal and I thought, alright, I've got nothing else on. (laughs) So we went out for two more meals and that’s when Ted tried to hold my hand.
T: What do you mean tried, I did! And you responded. (laughing)
Lucy : Did you like him at this stage?
H: He was growing on me.
T: That’s nice isn’t it. (laughs)
H: And then eventually after about six months he plucked up the courage to ask my mobile number.
T: No I did not, I already had it.
H: Well you didn’t text me…
T: I did! From Malta!
H: He was texting really nice messages. It was a long courtship. I wasn’t looking for anybody, I was more than happy on my own doing my own stuff. I have a very busy life, very busy legal career. But then he came out for my 60th birthday party and… never left. (laughing).
Lucy: How fantastic! How many years ago was that?
H: Six years ago.
T: Yeah. It’s been great, I mean we've been together now 24/7.
H: We’ve got a vegetable garden and in lockdown we’d take the deckchairs, look at the garden we’ve just worked on, have a gin and tonic and we did book club. So I’d read a book to Ted and inevitably by the second page he’d be asleep (laughs).
T: She’s just got one of them calming voices. (laughs)
Lucy: How was your wedding?
T: It was lovely because all my grandkids were there and my kids, we just had a few friends. It was in London, the Legal District opposite the Law Courts on the Strand. Middle Temple Inn, very private and steeped in History. It was a cracking night. We’ve both been married before but yeah, everybody enjoyed it.
Lucy: Did Hilary have any bridesmaids?
T: She had her daughter and my two granddaughters, David’s and my eldest daughter’s little one. And David was my best man.
Lucy: How about the honeymoon?
T: We came over here, we didn't want to go anywhere else. We are both the same, we think the same as well which is unusual.
Lucy : It was David (Beckham)'s 50th birthday recently, what do you get him for presents?
H: He kind of likes funny daft presents doesn’t he? He likes going out for a meal with us.
Lucy: You said you go to Victoria (Beckham)'s fashion shows?
H: Oh yeah, she loves the support of the family.
T: What upsets me is that, people don't know them and they criticise them without knowing them. And at the end of the day, they're just two normal people. Yes they’ve made good. Yes, they've got a lot of money, but they’ve worked, I mean they're still working now.
H: Their work ethic is unbelievable. They are so down to earth. Just like Ted.
T: Well, not quite like me.
H: Well no, there’s only one you (laughs). But if their kids (Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz & Harper Beckham) want something, they’ve got to work for it.
T: They’re lovely kids…
H: They are so well behaved and so well mannered.
Lucy: It always surprises me at how patriotic David comes across, despite the general public not always being on his side.
T: He’s a very strong willed person.
Lucy Hawkins chats to Ted Beckham & Hilary Meredith-Beckham
Tucked away on the sun-drenched south-east coast of Mallorca, Ted Beckham and his wife, Hilary Meredith-Beckham, have carved out a peaceful Mediterranean retreat that blends relaxation, family memories, and a touch of glamour. In an exclusive conversation, the couple opens up about their love for the island, their bond with David Beckham, Victoria Beckham and their grandchildren, and how a chance meeting led to their lasting romance.
Lucy: How long have you been coming to Mallorca?
H: I first came to Mallorca with my parents when I was about 6 and just absolutely loved it.
I love little islands. I was a holiday rep in Ibiza in the early 90’s but it closed down in winter, so when I was looking to buy on the Balearic Islands, Mallorca had flights throughout the year and I absolutely love winter here. So I found my house (near the south-east coast) 21 years ago. It has a garden with a small olive grove as well, we've had lots of great summers here. The restaurants are wonderful.
T: My favourite is a place called El Campo. The two guys that own it are just the nicest guys. I like places where you feel comfortable when you walk in and they come up to give you a cuddle.
H: There’s another one in the countryside called Son Terrassa which is my favourite restaurant. We call it the sunset restaurant, it's very rustic.
There are some great ones near Cala d’Or, Na Petra and Can Martina. Also Es Bergant and Caracola, very Mallorquin and also a great beach bar. You can end up having a late lunch staying there until 6 o'clock.
T: It’s lovely. I've been to some places, but this little island is just fantastic.
H: The thing about the island is you get all the little bays and the water is so clear.
Lucy: Okay, tell me how you met.
H: Well in hindsight now I think I was set up. (laughs) I was a trustee of a home for veterans and a lot of them served in D-Day, they're fantastic guys, ex SAS. I was phoned one evening to say would I come and show this VIP around and I said, ‘Well actually I can’t, can you ask another trustee?’ They phoned back and said they couldn’t find anyone else. So I said, ‘Ok, I’ll do it.’ I get there and this VIP is late…
T: ‘VIP’ I can’t understand it…
H: Which really annoyed me (that he was late). Anyway, he arrives, it’s Ted, and at first I thought he's got a really kind face. That was my first impression, and then I showed him around and he spent a lot of time with the veterans and soldiers.
T: I enjoyed it. I've got so much respect for them.
H: So after we did the tour someone said, ‘Ted’s got to get to the football ground for United, could you drive him there?’ And I thought, well no, this is way beyond the call of duty (laughs)! Can't he get a taxi? But he couldn’t because evidently it was a big game.
So we get in the car and the traffic is horrendous and some guy starts beeping his horn ferociously at me. I'm doing nothing wrong and Ted says, ‘Oh don't worry, it’s only Gary Neville.’
I had no idea who Gary was, he’d just seen Ted in the car with some blonde in a Jag (Hilary). So I get to United’s ground and as he's getting out some guy started taking photographs of us. We say goodbye and I think nothing else of it. About a month later our mutual friends said do you fancy coming out for a meal and I thought, alright, I've got nothing else on. (laughs) So we went out for two more meals and that’s when Ted tried to hold my hand.
T: What do you mean tried, I did! And you responded. (laughing)
Lucy : Did you like him at this stage?
H: He was growing on me.
T: That’s nice isn’t it. (laughs)
H: And then eventually after about six months he plucked up the courage to ask my mobile number.
T: No I did not, I already had it.
H: Well you didn’t text me…
T: I did! From Malta!
H: He was texting really nice messages. It was a long courtship. I wasn’t looking for anybody, I was more than happy on my own doing my own stuff. I have a very busy life, very busy legal career. But then he came out for my 60th birthday party and… never left. (laughing).
Lucy: How fantastic! How many years ago was that?
H: Six years ago.
T: Yeah. It’s been great, I mean we've been together now 24/7.
H: We’ve got a vegetable garden and in lockdown we’d take the deckchairs, look at the garden we’ve just worked on, have a gin and tonic and we did book club. So I’d read a book to Ted and inevitably by the second page he’d be asleep (laughs).
T: She’s just got one of them calming voices. (laughs)
Lucy: How was your wedding?
T: It was lovely because all my grandkids were there and my kids, we just had a few friends. It was in London, the Legal District opposite the Law Courts on the Strand. Middle Temple Inn, very private and steeped in History. It was a cracking night. We’ve both been married before but yeah, everybody enjoyed it.
Lucy: Did Hilary have any bridesmaids?
T: She had her daughter and my two granddaughters, David’s and my eldest daughter’s little one. And David was my best man.
Lucy: How about the honeymoon?
T: We came over here, we didn't want to go anywhere else. We are both the same, we think the same as well which is unusual.
Lucy : It was David (Beckham)'s 50th birthday recently, what do you get him for presents?
H: He kind of likes funny daft presents doesn’t he? He likes going out for a meal with us.
Lucy: You said you go to Victoria (Beckham)'s fashion shows?
H: Oh yeah, she loves the support of the family.
T: What upsets me is that, people don't know them and they criticise them without knowing them. And at the end of the day, they're just two normal people. Yes they’ve made good. Yes, they've got a lot of money, but they’ve worked, I mean they're still working now.
H: Their work ethic is unbelievable. They are so down to earth. Just like Ted.
T: Well, not quite like me.
H: Well no, there’s only one you (laughs). But if their kids (Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz & Harper Beckham) want something, they’ve got to work for it.
T: They’re lovely kids…
H: They are so well behaved and so well mannered.
Lucy: It always surprises me at how patriotic David comes across, despite the general public not always being on his side.
T: He’s a very strong willed person.
Lucy: Well, he’s (David Beckham) a national treasure.
T: Yeah, which is nice. He phoned me up (in 2015) and said do you fancy going to the football at Wembley? So I went and it was Arsenal versus Aston Villa (2015 FA Cup Final). I see the first half and then all of a sudden there's knocking on the door, ‘Hello, hello.’ And in walked Prince William, and I said, ‘Oh sorry, sir!’ and he said ‘No problem, can I speak to David please?’ ‘And I went out and went, ‘David, David! There’s Prince William out there.’ And he went, ‘Who?’ and I said ‘Prince William!’ (whispering urgently). And Prince William came in and he went, ‘Oh hello, David.’ and he gave him a cuddle! And I went, it’s bloody Prince William!
And what a lovely, lovely fella, what a nice guy and he said, ‘I just want to run something past you David.’ And I'm thinking, they’re best mates!
I’ve got a lot of respect for the Royal Family. I loved the Queen.
Lucy: Did you line up with David to pay your respects?
H: He wanted to but I wouldn’t let him because he’d just had a knee operation. But he wanted to go and join his son.
Lucy: I can't imagine the amount of photographs David would have had to have taken with fans standing in that line.
T: Obviously he had his security guy with him, David sent him out for three or four boxes of Dunkin' Donuts for people in the line near him. But that’s what he’s like.
Lucy: So when he started to become famous and he met all these famous people did he take it in his stride?
T: Yes, he takes everything in his stride.
Lucy: How was it when you met David and Victoria (Beckham) for the first time, Hilary?
H: They were really sweet, they were so nice. I’d already met David’s mum, Sandra, who has been absolutely lovely. Ted gets a bit worried because we get on so well. We’ve been on holiday together with the girls and she was absolutely lovely.
The grandchildren ask Ted what he was like when he was little so at Christmas I wrote a little children's book for them about grandad. We gave it to the seven youngest grandchildren and I had little cartoons drawn of him and at the back of the book there was a photograph of him and I wrote, ‘So do you think grandad was naughty or was he good? I think he was just curious and that got him into trouble.’
But you weren’t really naughty. Well actually you were but we left some of it out. (laughs)
T: She's a clever woman (Hilary). I was naughty.
Lucy: Have any of your children or grandchildren followed suit, got a bit of a cheeky side?
T: Yeah, one of David’s, he’s the third one, Cruz. He’s brilliant. I mean all my grandsons are lovely lads, absolute top boys. And they've all got their different personalities and they're all very respectful. I'm more pleased about that (than anything.) They’re great boys, but the third one is really cheeky, but he's a nice cheeky, you know. They've done a really good job. People don't see that side of it, they don't realise that they've got a life outside of (the fame).
I always told David, ‘Never ever refuse an autograph or a picture’, and he hasn’t to be fair. The only time he did was when his kids were around so they didn't get hurt. So he’d put them in the car and then go back and sign the autographs. He's been an absolute amazing dad.
H: He’s very kind, they both are.
Lucy: What were your summer holidays like growing up, Ted?
T: They were good, obviously my mum and dad didn’t have a lot. It was just me and my brother. We had caravan holidays, we used to go to Hastings. It was fantastic. My little granddaughter, she’s 7, she says, ‘What did you do when you was younger grandad? Were you naughty?’ I used to say, ‘When I was a little boy, my mum and dad didn't have a lot and we lived down in Sheerness and we used to have a tin bath in front of the fire.’
H: I’m sure he’s a generation older than me.
T: But that’s what it was like though.
H: Even my grandparents had a bathroom inside.
T: Yeah but you are a rich family, I keep telling you!
Lucy: This is like the conversation on the Netflix documentary about David when he sticks his head around the corner and tells Victoria to tell the truth about being working class.
H: Oh yes. (laughs)
T: But it’s true, the house that I lived in didn't have a bathroom, just a sink. When I was a nipper my mum used to wash me in the sink.
(Ted looks at Hilary and affects a posh accent) Well excuse me, Lady Chatterley there. (laughs) And I'm the gardener.
Lucy: I seem to remember them getting along famously. (laughing)
T: Oh yeah, they did. Yeah, she’s posh and I’m a commoner. (laughing).
It was an absolute joy chatting to Ted and Hilary. I loved hearing their stories filled with warmth, humour, and unmistakable affection—for each other, their family, and the life they’ve built together. I really hope to catch up with them again in future.
Lucy Hawkins is an artist, writer and author. You can see more of her work at www.lucyhawkinsart.com
Lucy: Well, he’s (David Beckham) a national treasure.
T: Yeah, which is nice. He phoned me up (in 2015) and said do you fancy going to the football at Wembley? So I went and it was Arsenal versus Aston Villa (2015 FA Cup Final). I see the first half and then all of a sudden there's knocking on the door, ‘Hello, hello.’ And in walked Prince William, and I said, ‘Oh sorry, sir!’ and he said ‘No problem, can I speak to David please?’ ‘And I went out and went, ‘David, David! There’s Prince William out there.’ And he went, ‘Who?’ and I said ‘Prince William!’ (whispering urgently). And Prince William came in and he went, ‘Oh hello, David.’ and he gave him a cuddle! And I went, it’s bloody Prince William!
And what a lovely, lovely fella, what a nice guy and he said, ‘I just want to run something past you David.’ And I'm thinking, they’re best mates!
I’ve got a lot of respect for the Royal Family. I loved the Queen.
Lucy: Did you line up with David to pay your respects?
H: He wanted to but I wouldn’t let him because he’d just had a knee operation. But he wanted to go and join his son.
Lucy: I can't imagine the amount of photographs David would have had to have taken with fans standing in that line.
T: Obviously he had his security guy with him, David sent him out for three or four boxes of Dunkin' Donuts for people in the line near him. But that’s what he’s like.
Lucy: So when he started to become famous and he met all these famous people did he take it in his stride?
T: Yes, he takes everything in his stride.
Lucy: How was it when you met David and Victoria (Beckham) for the first time, Hilary?
H: They were really sweet, they were so nice. I’d already met David’s mum, Sandra, who has been absolutely lovely. Ted gets a bit worried because we get on so well. We’ve been on holiday together with the girls and she was absolutely lovely.
The grandchildren ask Ted what he was like when he was little so at Christmas I wrote a little children's book for them about grandad. We gave it to the seven youngest grandchildren and I had little cartoons drawn of him and at the back of the book there was a photograph of him and I wrote, ‘So do you think grandad was naughty or was he good? I think he was just curious and that got him into trouble.’
But you weren’t really naughty. Well actually you were but we left some of it out. (laughs)
T: She's a clever woman (Hilary). I was naughty.
Lucy: Have any of your children or grandchildren followed suit, got a bit of a cheeky side?
T: Yeah, one of David’s, he’s the third one, Cruz. He’s brilliant. I mean all my grandsons are lovely lads, absolute top boys. And they've all got their different personalities and they're all very respectful. I'm more pleased about that (than anything.) They’re great boys, but the third one is really cheeky, but he's a nice cheeky, you know. They've done a really good job. People don't see that side of it, they don't realise that they've got a life outside of (the fame).
I always told David, ‘Never ever refuse an autograph or a picture’, and he hasn’t to be fair. The only time he did was when his kids were around so they didn't get hurt. So he’d put them in the car and then go back and sign the autographs. He's been an absolute amazing dad.
H: He’s very kind, they both are.
Lucy: What were your summer holidays like growing up, Ted?
T: They were good, obviously my mum and dad didn’t have a lot. It was just me and my brother. We had caravan holidays, we used to go to Hastings. It was fantastic. My little granddaughter, she’s 7, she says, ‘What did you do when you was younger grandad? Were you naughty?’ I used to say, ‘When I was a little boy, my mum and dad didn't have a lot and we lived down in Sheerness and we used to have a tin bath in front of the fire.’
H: I’m sure he’s a generation older than me.
T: But that’s what it was like though.
H: Even my grandparents had a bathroom inside.
T: Yeah but you are a rich family, I keep telling you!
Lucy: This is like the conversation on the Netflix documentary about David when he sticks his head around the corner and tells Victoria to tell the truth about being working class.
H: Oh yes. (laughs)
T: But it’s true, the house that I lived in didn't have a bathroom, just a sink. When I was a nipper my mum used to wash me in the sink.
(Ted looks at Hilary and affects a posh accent) Well excuse me, Lady Chatterley there. (laughs) And I'm the gardener.
Lucy: I seem to remember them getting along famously. (laughing)
T: Oh yeah, they did. Yeah, she’s posh and I’m a commoner. (laughing).
It was an absolute joy chatting to Ted and Hilary. I loved hearing their stories filled with warmth, humour, and unmistakable affection—for each other, their family, and the life they’ve built together. I really hope to catch up with them again in future.
Lucy Hawkins is an artist, writer and author. You can see more of her work at www.lucyhawkinsart.com