David Beckham has poked fun at his wife Victoria Beckham by posting a picture of her smiling.

The retired soccer star took to his Facebook account to upload a close-up image of the brunette beauty - who has a reputation for looking glum in photos - lying down and laughing with a massive grin on her face.

David - who has sons Brooklyn, 14, Romeo, 10, and Cruz, eight, as well as 23-month-old daughter Harper with the Spice Girl - wrote: ''See I told you she smiles.''

The rare cheerful image of Victoria has since received more than 342,000 'likes' on the 38-year-old star's Facebook page in just 12 hours.

It is thought the 39-year-old fashion designer might have been in such a good mood after jetting out to Beijing, China, to join up with her husband, who is in the country as an ambassador of its soccer Super League, over the weekend.

Victoria has previously admitted she always looks glum in photos but joked the fashion industry is responsible for taking her happy appearance away.

She said: ''I actually used to smile a lot in pictures. I think I only stopped smiling when I got into fashion. Fashion stole my smile!

''I've created this person. And I'm not saying that's not me, but I wouldn't say that's the whole me ... It's an armour that goes up.''