David and Victoria Beckham have asked for a private family Christmas card to be removed from online publications after it was leaked and spread around the world on social networking sites.

The couple, who are in the UK for the Christmas break, had created a personal family Christmas card featuring a photo of their four children, Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, nine, Cruz, five, and five-month-old daughter Harper, in bed together.

The card was intended for a small number of journalists and magazine editors around the world but the couple's spokesman has since asked for the photo to be removed from any websites.

The holiday card was unintentionally leaked by Senior Fashion News Director of Teen Vogue magazine, Jane Keltner De Valle who tweeted: "Cutest thing about @victoriabeckham's xmas card? Photo cred on back that reads 'Picture by Daddy'."

The photo was then published by Editor of Glamour magazine Jo Elvin who backtracked, tweeting: "I should point out, the Christmas card from the Beckhams is NOT for publication. It was private. My bad. Sorry, got swept up in adorableness."

The picture was later picked up by Celebrity Big Brother contestant Darryn Lyons' website Mr Paparazzi and then spread like wildfire across Twitter and Facebook.

The couple are used to huge amounts of media attention but this adorable photo was clearly intended for a select few of their friends.

CELEBRITY FAMILY ALBUM

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• Stacey Solomon

• Kate Moss

• Jodie Kidd

• David Beckham

• Victoria Beckham

• Kate Winselt

• Amy Winehouse

• Eva Longoria

• Orlando Bloom

• Keira Knightly

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• Elle MacPherson

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