The Sun also spoke to a friend of the family who called Brooklyn's absence at David's birthday dinner "a dagger to the heart". The source said: "David is heartbroken but putting a brave face on it. Tonight is all about celebration and love, and he is swimming in it. Brooklyn actually informed his parents a while ago that he and his wife, Nicola, would not be attending but, of course, David and Victoria desperately hoped he would change his mind.

"It’s a dagger to the heart that he hasn’t attended a single one of David’s 50th celebrations - and hurts the whole family including the grandparents and siblings. Brooklyn is a really sweet boy and everyone loves him dearly. They just hope things can be patched up soon. In the mean time, everyone around David are doing all they can to give him a magical evening to remember."