Victoria Beckham was left beaming with pride on Tuesday night after she was presented with a Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year 2024 award by her daughter Harper.
The fashion designer and former Spice Girl was honoured with an entrepreneur award for her “innovation and dedication to the British and global fashion industry” at Claridge’s in London.
Daughter Harper, 13 – the youngest child of former footballer David Beckham and his wife - has previously gone to her fashion events, and the premiere of the couple’s Netflix documentary.
Wearing one of her mother’s designs, Harper took the stage at the event, held in partnership with The Platinum Card by American Express, and began her speech with a shy: “I’m so nervous.”
She went on: “Good evening everyone, I’m so excited to be here presenting the entrepreneur award. Especially as tonight is a school night. And hopefully this isn't going to get me into trouble.
“The winner is someone I have always looked up to. She’s built an incredible business from the ground up and has showed me the value of working hard, dreaming big and setting my standards.
“She’s taught me so much about what it takes to succeed. But above all else she’s taught me to always be kind and even though she has a million things to do, she rarely misses school,” the teen continued.
“Tonight I am so proud to present the Entrepreneur Of The Year award to a truly inspiring woman who means the world to me, my amazing mummy, Victoria Beckham.”
After walking on stage to accept her award, the designer poured praise on her daughter and said: “I am so, so proud of you. Getting up on stage in front of a room full of people is scary and you did it with such poise and such elegance.
“I am so proud of the young lady you have become. You keep me grounded and inspire me every day. You teach me to see the world through fresh eyes. And as busy as I am, being a mum is the most important job to me. So thank you.”
Also being given prizes on Tuesday was Killing Eve and Silo star Dame Harriet Walter, who was given the icon award for her theatre, film and TV work by Brian Cox, who played her former husband in hit series Succession.
On the red carpet, Dame Harriet told PA she was “very grateful” to have got the prize at the age of 74.
“There are fewer of us (women) in the industry, we get less of a bite at the cherry, particularly when you get older,” she also said.
“I hope I can represent all the other older women who are still good at their job, you know, and still got their health, we hope, and they’re sitting at home, ‘When’s my agent going to call?’ So I feel very lucky and if I can inspire anybody to keep going and believe in themselves, that’s a good thing.”
Author Dame Jilly Cooper received the writer prize for “her extraordinary half-century contribution to literature” from Poldark actor Aidan Turner, who stars in the adaptation of her book, Rivals, which began airing this year on Disney+.
Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan got the television actress prize, while Game Of Thrones actress Sophie Turner took home the performance award.
Lydia Slater, the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar UK, said: “We are hugely privileged to have presented the Women of the Year Awards to this esteemed group of winners, all of whom have left us inspired by their trailblazing, impactful contribution and dedication to their respective fields.”
Raye, a Brit record holder for her independently released album My 21st Century Blues after winning six awards in one night, This Is Going To Hurt actress Ambika Mod, artist Rana Begum, designer Francesca Amfitheatrof, and Olympian Katarina Johnson also were given women of the year gongs at the event.
Actresses Jodie Comer, Golda Rosheuvel, actor Paapa Essiedu and Love Island host Maya Jama were among those presenting on the night.
