Beckham feud first clue as Brooklyn acts as 'human airbag' in photo

The ongoing feud within the Beckham family is, unsurprisingly, the hot topic of conversation globally as people scramble to decipher hidden messages in Brooklyn Beckham's shocking Instagram statement denouncing his famous family and search for early signs of discord.

For years, the Beckhams have prided themselves on being a picture-perfect family unit - until billionaire heiress Nicola Peltz entered the scene, that is.

If insiders are to be believed, everything changed when the American actress fell in love with David Beckham's eldest son, with regular whispers of issues between the young couple and the rest of the Beckham family surfacing.

Now, a body language expert has identified the initial signs that trouble was brewing in the Beckham family paradise - and it doesn't look good.

Leading body language and communication expert Judi James has exclusively analysed for The Mirror the subtle indications that all was not well between the two Beckham women - matriarch Victoria Beckham and her daughter-in-law Nicola Peltz Beckham.

Upon scrutinising a photo of David, Victoria, Nicola, and Brooklyn from the red carpet launch event of Netflix's original series Beckham, Judi has provided her expert opinion on the non-verbal cues which first signalled a significant rift was forming between Victoria and Nicola, with Brooklyn seemingly acting as the mediator between the two main women in his life, reports the Mirror.

Judi says: "The Netflix launch red carpet photos are the ones that appear to show the only non-verbal sign of potential trouble in Beckham-brand paradise.

"While Victoria holds the pose in the hub or core of the family pose, Brooklyn appears to act as a human air-bag here between his mother and Nicola. He sports the social smile that is appropriate for the moment in front of the cameras, but the couple appear to be virtually ignored by Victoria and Nicola appears to look uncomfortable and unhappy.

"Brooklyn looks torn between the two women here, leaning in and looking at his mother but also putting a hand around Nicola's waist to gently pull her into the line-up."

In stark contrast, another snapshot - this time from the red carpet premiere of Nicola's own film Lola, written, directed, and starring the billionaire heiress - shows the expert interpreting Nicola's body language as being on the opposite end of the spectrum: "Nicola's own red-carpet launch showed a very different body language and emotional mood.

"Posing alone with Victoria, Nicola looks playful, relaxed and deeply friendly here, presenting Victoria to the camera with a look of pride, like a trophy mother-in-law.

"Nicola's touch rituals suggest a lack of inhibition, hinting at a close friendship, as she throws one arm around Victoria's shoulders and lets it hang there."

Two additional snapshots - featuring Nicola with her arms draped around her mother-in-law and several other Beckham relatives - show the actress adopting what's typically regarded as David's traditional position in family portraits, the expert observes.

Judi explains: "The 'arms as protective or proprietorial wings' pose also included other members of the family.

"Pre-Nicola it had been the tradition for David to throw his arms around his brood, but there are examples of Nicola doing similar, suggesting a strong desire to bond with them or even care for them as one big family unit.

"In one pose we can see Brooklyn and Victoria happily endorsing this pose by leaning their heads in towards Nicola while David joins in from behind his wife."

A further image - captured during what appeared to be a casual ladies' outing in Miami alongside Antonela Roccuzzo and Elena Galera - depicts the duo appearing as a "fond double act" the body language specialist notes.

She observed: "Even the more relaxed socializing photo at the table shows Victoria and Nicola singling themselves out as a fond double act, with Victoria's arm around Nicola's shoulders and a happily endorsing hand clasp in return from Nicola."

Indeed, their well-known Instagram selfie reveals their close connection, well ahead of Brooklyn's public declaration. "In their selfie photo it looks like Victoria wanting to capture the more intimate moment while Nicola snuggles into her with a fond-looking smile," the expert elaborates.

So, what descended into such a spectacular breakdown between these two women and will there be any further developments in this attention-grabbing dispute? Only time will tell.