David Beckham and Katherine Jenkins in tense Wimbledon meeting after huge row

David Beckham and Katherine Jenkins faced an uneasy encounter in Wimbledon's Royal Box following his refusal to say sorry for criticising her OBE award.

The ex-England and Manchester United legend, 49, who received an OBE for his footballing achievements in 2003, expressed outrage when the classical singer was honoured similarly in 2018.

His discontent over not receiving a higher accolade led him to send a scathing email about the Welsh mezzo-soprano, 44, which was subsequently leaked.

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In the email to his adviser, he remarked: "Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops plus taking coke. F***ing joke."

During the controversy, she admitted feeling hurt by his words and the absence of an apology, reports the Express.

Speaking to The Sun at the time, Katherine said: "You're just minding your own business and you get caught up in this massive storm. You just think, 'Aw, I wasn't doing anything'. To get caught up in that wasn't pleasant.

"I don't know why, again, that was aimed at me. I also don't feel the need to defend this, by the way. I know what I've done and when I got the OBE it was given to me for music and for charity."

Her OBE was presented at Buckingham Palace in 2018 for her contributions to music and charitable efforts, including performances for troops on the front lines.

Katherine disclosed that she hadn't attempted to reach out to Beckham after his comments.

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She concluded: "It's obviously disappointing. I've never heard anything from them about it. It doesn't matter. Priorities are my kids, my family, my singing, my charities and that's just white noise in the background."

The dispute erupted following the artist's need to refute allegations of an affair with Victoria Beckham's spouse six years prior.

Beckham’s reference to "coke" in the email came after the singing star admitted to taking illegal drugs in the past, including cocaine, ecstasy and MDMA, until she was 23.

“I felt like I had to be honest, that was the thing,” she told The Sun,

“I look back and I think it was the right thing to do and I definitely don’t regret talking about it. I think it was something that needed to be addressed.”

Beckham attended the All England Club on Monday with his mother Sandra, 75, while Katherine was present with her filmmaker partner Andrew Levitas, 46.

Also gracing the Royal Box today was the esteemed natural historian Sir David Attenborough, 98, joined by his daughter Susan Attenborough.