David and Victoria Beckham's Love Story, as Told by Them

Updated on June 12, 2016 at 5:00 AM

David and Victoria Beckham's whirlwind romance began back in 1997 and turned into marriage in 1999. Since then, the pair have welcomed four beautiful children, sons Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz and daughter Harper, and have shared a slew of sweet moments along the way, including adorable red carpet dates and lavish vacations. While so many couples have already called it quits this year, David reveals that their secret to a long-lasting marriage is to "trust each other's judgement" and that "it doesn't matter what people say." Victoria has also gone on record saying, "We always make time for each other as a couple and as a family. David and I have nothing to prove. We love each other, look out for each other and are strong as both partners and parents." Read through the duo's best quotes about each other, then check out even more Hollywood couples who have been together the longest.

Victoria on David

On her nickname for David: "I call him Golden Balls."
On how they make their relationship work: "Yes, we travel a lot with our respective businesses and charitable commitments, but we always make time for each other as a couple and as a family. David and I have nothing to prove. We love each other, look out for each other and are strong as both partners and parents."
On the first time she met David: "I knew as soon as I met him. One of the most attractive things I found with David is that he shared the same sort of family values as me. He was sitting there with his family and I really liked that. He's a very kind person. We're really good friends on top of everything."

On her admiration for David: "My husband constantly inspires me and guides me — he has done so much good work, I look up to him and have the utmost respect and admiration for all that he has achieved."
On how they raise their children: "David and I both have a strong work ethic and I believe that's a good example to set our children. David and I explain to the children what privileged lives they lead. We tell them that in many places in the world children are hungry, homeless and sick. They all understand how important it is to help others. Romeo ran the children's marathon earlier this year [2015] and raised an amazing amount of money through sponsorship, which he divided between David's charity and UNAIDS."
On how she deals with those pesky divorce rumors: "I have never listened to, or commented on, the rumors about any aspect of my life. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and beautiful, healthy, happy children."

David on Victoria

On meeting Victoria: "Well, the Spice Girls had been together for a few months and obviously, they were so huge and I just wanted to meet one of them and the one I wanted to meet was Victoria. I was in a hotel room with my best friend, who was my best man at my wedding, and I remember turning around before I even met Victoria and said, 'I want to marry that one. The one in the black dress, the one with the bob.' A few weeks later, she came to a football match — soccer match — and I said, 'Hi' from across the room and that was it. I thought I missed my chance and then a week later, she turned up at another football match and she had a few to drink and she gave me her number."
On where they shared their first kiss: "On the way to my parent's house — my mommy's house now. There's a roundabout and there's a little pub on the corner and that's where we had our first kiss."
On why he loves her: "I love her for many reasons but the main one is because she gave me the most amazing children."

On Victoria's work ethic: "I'm proud of her because she works so hard. She's so dedicated, she deserves the success."
On their long-lasting marriage: "We've been together for 18 years, we've been married for 16 years, so you trust each other's judgment. I think that has worked for us."
On dealing with the Hollywood rumor mill: "I'm secure as a person, as a husband, as a dad. I've gone past the point of really worrying, caring. When I was 22 years old, it might have affected me differently. I'm 40, I've got four amazing kids, and an amazing wife, amazing parents, amazing in-laws, amazing friends who I trust: It doesn't matter what people say."