Romance ahoy for Beckhams

Their marriage has sailed into stormy weather over the past seven years. But it seems that David and Victoria Beckham have finally found calmer seas.

Friends say there has been a dramatic shift in the couple's relationship after the trauma of England's World Cup disaster and Beckham's resignation as captain.

As chief tear-wiper, his 32-year-old wife is said to have regained the power in their marriage.

And pictures of the couple on a leisurely cruise around the Italian coast have shown that they are getting on better than they have done for years.

The Beckhams were openly affectionate as they relaxed aboard fashion designer Roberto Cavalli's £20million luxury yacht.

'David has been very low and withdrawn since the World Cup disaster and he has really depended on Victoria,' a source close to the couple said yesterday.

'They have spent hours on end talking, drinking wine and holding hands as they try and work through his sadness at England's performance. For the first time in a long time, he is not the adored hero and his confidence is at an incredibly low ebb.'

Mrs Beckham is thought to have pulled the strings in their relation-ship from the start - even down to the clothes her husband wore. But when her efforts as a solo musician flopped and he found independence at Real Madrid, the power balance shifted.

Now the 31-year-old footballer, can better appreciate how his wife suffered as her career waned, said the source.

'And, unlike the way he belittled her when she was feeling down, he has really been touched by the way she has been there for him.

'She is discussing a big deal with Roberto Cavalli and she has even been joking with David that it is his turn to take a breather because she is hoping that soon she will be in a position to support him.' The couple, who married in 1999, have also started trying for a fourth child and are said to be desperate for a girl after having three boys.

Their trip to Portovenere on the Ligurian coast follows a family holiday in Marbella, where locals saw their obvious affection. 'They really looked like they were on their first honeymoon,' said one. 'They were always holding hands and kissing - it was lovely to see.'