Baden-Baden awaits Victoria Beckham and her bunions

By Susanne Kupke Jun 10, 2006, 0:07 GMT

Victoria Beckham. © Rui M. Leal / Photorazzi

Baden-Baden - Baden-Baden's luxurious Brenner's Park Hotel & Spa is well accustomed to prominent guests, so the five star establishment took Friday's arrival of the first contingent of wives and partners of the England football team completely in its stride.

Over 30 luxury suites have been set aside for the women in the 100-room hotel, and while the first batch of wives and partners started arriving in the early afternoon, Victoria Beckham wasn't among them.

The former Spice Girl - recently pictured showing rather painful- looking bunions squashed into her exclusive sandals - was not expected to arrive until later in the evening although rumours were rife that she would pull a fast one, shake off her media pursuers and stay somewhere else.

Dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela, Boris Yeltsin, Yasser Arafat and former US President Bill Clinton have all stayed here along with elaborate security contingents.

But the 32-year-old Victoria Beckham will require a different kind of protection - from photographers looking to record her every move - and bunion - while she is in Germany supporting husband and England captain David Beckham.

'We are prepared for all eventualities,' said hotel spokeswoman Baerbel Goehner reassuringly. If any of the entourage want to visit one of Germany's oldest casinos, avail of the area's famous thermal baths, take a stroll in the rose garden or wander through the Black Forest, around 50 specially-trained guides are available to deliver the high standards to which the wives and partners are accustomed.

Private shopping trips outside normal business hours can also be arranged if the ladies have enough of the wonders of local nature.

While one jeweller set up a special display of exclusive diamonds in the hope of attracting Victoria Beckham to his shop, on the whole most businesses haven't reacted to the World Cup circus.

'We're happy that the women are here,' said one shopkeeper, but added that she wasn't expecting an increase in turnover.

The hotel has raised the England flag in honour of its guests while a portrait of Queen Victoria hangs in the original English Garden where Victoria Beckham, should she deign to visit, can dine with a view of the adjacent park.

The portrait has nothing to do with the arrival of wives and partners ahead of England's opening World Cup match against Paraguay Saturday.

Queen Victoria stayed here in 1872 and 1873. More recent royal visitors include Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, heir to the British throne Prince Charles, and his sister Princess Anne.