David and Victoria Beckham welcomed around 300 people to their pre-World Cup party.

Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney was one of the first guests to arrive at the "Full Length & Fabulous" event being held at the Beckhams' home at Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire in England.

David Beckham - captain of Team England [tom.com]

Onlookers were disappointed to discover that most guests arriving for the party were hidden behind the blacked-out windows of people carriers.

The Beckhams treated guests to a stunning aerobatics display as they arrived at Beckingham Palace.

A four-strong stunt team of former RAF Red Arrows, called the Blades, flew overhead as guests arrived. Each plane had a wing emblazoned with a St George's cross.

The Blades replaced a planned flypast by the RAF Memorial Flight, made up of a Second World War Spitfire, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber.

The flypast was cancelled at the Beckhams' request after criticism of the use of Second World War aircraft to mark a tournament to be held in Germany.

The Beckhams staged a similar event four years ago prior to the 1992 World Cup.

Other sporting celebrities seen arriving at the party included former England Rugby Union captain Will Carling, Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, Formula 1 driver Jenson Button, former England soccer star Paul Gascoigne, Manchester United defender Gary Neville, golfer Nick Faldo, former England striker Alan Shearer and Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard.

Among the non-sporting celebrities: models Kate Moss, Jordan and Elle MacPherson, The Osbournes, Princess Beatrice and her mother Sarah Ferguson, Ben Elton and fashion designers Valentino and Roberto Cavalli.

Robbie Williams and US soul legend James Brown were both invited to perform.