Posh & Becks: A Marriage is written by the royal writer Andrew Morton. Publication has gone ahead only after a secret legal deal was reached.

The book is based on interviews with the Beckhams' former minder, Mark Niblett.

He claims the Manchester United star and his pop star wife are obsessed with fame despite trying to present an image of being an "ordinary couple".

Legal action

In August lawyers for the Beckhams took action to prevent publication of the book. They dropped the effort when an undisclosed settlement was agreed.

The case centred on one particular chapter - 200 words of which have been cut - based on Mr Niblett's interviews with Andrew Morton.

Lawyers for the Beckhams said the couple's former minder had signed a confidentiality agreement with them before he left the job.

Despite their high-profile lifestyle Mr Beckham, 25, and his 26-year-old wife guard access to their private life, and in particular their son, Brooklyn.

Mr Morton, whose book about Princess Diana made him a millionaire, conducted several interviews for the book.