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David Beckham smiled at fans as he defiantly stepped out in London just days after his multi-million pound brand was tarnished by the leak of damaging private emails.

The former footballer, 41, dressed head to toe in sportswear and picked up two shakes as he strolled through the city on Monday.

He didn't look to be feeling the strain of the scandal, which saw controversial correspondence between himself and PR chief Simon Oliveira made public.

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Business as usual: David Beckham, 41, smiled at fans as he defiantly stepped out in London just days after his multi-million pound brand was tarnished by the leak of damaging private emails

In the haul of hacked messages, Beckham branded the honours committee 'c****' for not giving him a knighthood and criticised singer Katherine Jenkins for being recognised instead.

David sported his familiar well-groomed beard and flashed a grin at fans across the road as he walked with drinks in hand.

He wore a dark grey beanie with a light grey Adidas hoodie, knee-length shorts and black sports leggings.

The sporting icon looked to be listening to his tunes via his Apple AirPods as the sun shone down on him.

Life goes on: The former footballer dressed head to toe in sportswear and picked up two shakes as he strolled through the city on Monday

Defiant: He didn't look to be feeling the strain of the scandal, which saw controversial correspondence between himself and PR chief Simon Oliveira made public

While David appeared keen to smile off his troubles, his wife Victoria, 42, cut a far more tense figure as she stepped out in New York. 

The designer returned to work on Monday for the first time since her family's brand was left hanging in the balance following husband David's email scandal.

She was seen jetting out of the UK as the storm began to swirl over her husband's clean-cut image and she has since emerged heading to business meetings stateside.

Thirsty work: David sported his familiar well-groomed beard and flashed a grin as he walked with drinks in hand

Taking his mind off things: The sporting icon looked to be listening to his tunes via his Apple AirPods as the sun shone down on him

Dressed down: He wore a dark grey beanie with a light grey Adidas hoodie, knee-length shorts and black sports leggings

The mother-of-four was seen looking furious as she strutted along the pavement into an office.

However, rather than going for a subtle look to avoid attention, the former Spice Girl went all out to turn heads.

Victoria was dressed in head-to-toe in a bright red ribbed wool two piece from her own collection, over a clashing blue shirt.

Seemingly alone, she remained stern-faced until she was in the building.

Her appearance comes two days after she was being rushed through London's Heathrow airport on Saturday following reports that her husband David was a victim of a £1million blackmail plot over hacked emails.

She means business: Victoria Beckham returned to work on Monday for the first time since her family's brand was left hanging in the balance following husband David's leaked email scandal

Not hiding: Victoria was seen jetting out of the UK as the storm began to swirl over her husband's clean-cut image and she has now emerged heading to business meetings stateside

It comes as MPs hit out against a potential 'bend it for Beckham' rule for the rich and famous amid claims the former footballer was advised by Whitehall on how to fit the Knighthood criteria.

The politicians said today that celebrities should be treated no differently to ordinary members of the public when it comes to taxes and the honours systems.

The comments come amid reports that Beckham was on the verge of becoming Sir David in 2014 until a last-minute 'red flag' intervention from HMRC due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme. 

Seeing red: The mum-of-four was seen looking furious as she strutted the pavement into an office

Insiders confirmed there was effectively then horse-trading between a Whitehall committee and the superstar's advisers to 'sort out' the issues raised by HMRC.

Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour’s shadow culture minister, today said it was 'incredibly wrong' while Lib Dem MP John Pugh, a member of the influential Public Accounts Committee, said the same rules should apply for everyone.  

Beckham and his PR machine have been left reeling after Friday's release of 18.6million emails and documents hacked by the Football Leaks website from the servers of Doyen Global, the firm run by the ex-footballer's PR chief.

Bright spark: However, rather than going for a subtle look to avoid attention, the fashion designer went all out to turn heads

According to the revelations, the Honours Committee had already agreed that Beckham's nomination – almost certainly proposed by his PR advisers – was well 'merited' before a routine check of his tax affairs. 

The leaked emails also include a number of bombshells and series of sweary-rants and may even have been used as part of a £1million blackmail plot.

In one message the ex-England captain allegedly claims singer Katherine Jenkins, 36, got an OBE for ‘singing at the rugby and going to see the troops plus taking coke. F*****g joke’.  

Fitting: The colour of her outfit no doubt reflected her mood following her husband's leaked emails

On Saturday, Victoria was seen rushing through the terminal at Heathrow with her guard staying close to her side after the revelation.

Keeping her head down, the former Spice Girls star donned a camel coat to catch her flight. 

Her trademark VB phonecase was seen as she kept her mobile glued to her hand for the journey.

The security guard kept a hand on her shoulder as she left her car and headed into the airport.  

Her outing comes after David allegedly wrote an explicit email to Oliveira, to say it was a 'f****** joke' that singer Katherine Jenkins was awarded an OBE.

United: Her outing comes after David, 41, allegedly wrote an explicit email to his PR manager, Simon Oliveria, to say it was a 'f****** joke' that singer Katherine Jenkins was awarded an OBE 

He allegedly wrote the private message after he missed out on a knighthood, while other emails are said to show him call the honours committee 'unappreciative c****.

But it now seems the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder could have been a victim of a targeted blackmail plot.

The emails were passed to the Football Leaks website after the firm run by his advisers refused to pay the hackers, reports Tom Bryant at the Daily Mirror. 

A source told the newspaper that Beckham - who earned 115 caps playing for England - was simply 'caught in the crossfire'.

The messages were reportedly accessed after criminals - thought to be using Russian servers - hacked documents from the sports agency run by Mr Oliveria.  

They demanded one million euros - almost £900,000 - or they would pass on the material they had acquired, according to the Mirror.  

The hackers went to Doyen Sports, which are part of Mr Oliveria's Doyen Global agency based in Portugal. 

They sent an email and attempted to 'blackmail' the business team - who called the police at the beginning of 2016.

A source told the paper: 'They said we have all this information and you have to pay up. It was blackmail, pure and simple.

'The investigation has been going on behind the scenes for some time and involved several prominent companies.

'The hack wasn't targeted at David at all – it was very much a fishing expedition but David has been caught in the crossfire.'

The alleged blackmailer used the name Artem Lovuzov and said the leak is 'a lot bigger' than they imagined when he contacted Doyen Sports. 

And after not receiving a reply they allegedly passed it on to Football Leaks, who deny blackmailing Doyen Sports.  

The emails, which were allegedly written by Beckham, were then leaked and appeared to show him refuse to give $1million to a UNICEF event - allegedly writing 'it's my f****** money'. 

Beckileaks: David allegedly wrote the private message after he missed out on a knighthood, while other emails are said to show him call the honours committee 'unappreciative c****'

Victims? It now seems the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder could have been a victim of a targeted blackmail plot

It comes as Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins hit back at Beckham after he allegedly branded her OBE award a 'f****** joke'.

She was given an OBE in the 2014 New Year Honours for her services to music and charity.

Her manager, Professor Jonathan Shalit, told Dan Wootton at The Sun that she deserved her award for her charity work and music career. 

A spokesman for Beckham said: 'This story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and doctored private emails from a third party server and gives a deliberately inaccurate picture.' 

Singing sensation: It comes as Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins hit back at Beckham after he allegedly branded her OBE award a 'f****** joke'