David Beckham shares childhood photos in birthday tribute to mum Sandra

• David Beckham posted childhood photos on Instagram to celebrate Sandra Beckham's birthday
• Fans compared a young Sandra Beckham's appearance to that of Princess Diana
• Beckham promised to send his mum a Beckham Cup as her birthday gift

David Beckham paid a warm tribute to his mother Sandra Beckham on Saturday, sharing a collection of rare childhood photographs on Instagram to mark her birthday. The retired footballer used the post to thank her for her unwavering support throughout the family's life, alongside a personal message and a promised gift.

A heartfelt message

Beckham accompanied the photographs with an affectionate caption addressed directly to his mother. "Happy Birthday Mum, hope you have the best day cause if anyone deserves it it's you..," he wrote. He went on to add: "Thank you for always being there for us all we love you so much oh and I'm sending a BECKHAM cup over to you as your gift Love you Mum."

A look back through the years

The Instagram carousel opened with a black-and-white image of Sandra holding a baby David, with her wearing a striped top. A second photograph showed a young David — appearing to be in his pre-teen years — grinning broadly alongside his sister, with Sandra seated behind them. The third image captured a mother-and-son moment in a changing room, taken during David's early days of learning football. Further slides showed the pair together at various locations as David grew older.

Fans draw Princess Diana comparisons

The post drew an enthusiastic response from Beckham's followers, with many rushing to the comments to wish Sandra a happy birthday. Several fans were struck by her appearance in the throwback images, drawing comparisons to the late Princess Diana. "I thought it was Lady Diana," wrote one follower. Another commented: "She looks like Princess Diana." A third added: "Is that Princess Di older lookey likey??"