David and Victoria Beckham are moving the family back to London, selling their Hertfordshire property for just over $19 million, about $5 million less than the listing price.

The property, called “Beckingham Palace”, was purchased by the Beckhams in 1999 for a fraction of the selling price, a mere $4 million. The family has not stayed in the “Palace” for about two years, according to a Daily Mirror source. “They have had years of happiness in the home, but practically now there is no need to keep it,” a source for The Sun reported.

The iconic couple will move their children Brooklyn (14), Romeo (11), Cruz (8) and Harper (2) into a central London pad reportedly costing about $72 million.

Beckham, pictured in cool black & white photos, is also releasing a book at the end of October. The globe-trotting athlete retired this year from his 20-year soccer career and the book will feature photos from his time on the field. And Becks need not confine himself to sports, modeling for H&M and promoting his own celebrity fragrance can fill the hours. But it seems he enjoys family-time most of all, even attending a sports day at the kids’ London school.

Soccer phenom Beckham also grabbed headlines for a surprise appearance to award Malala Yousafzai the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award. The teen honoree said upon meeting Beckham, “I didn’t know you would be here.” She apparently recovered gracefully, quizzing Beckham about his work as a Unicef ambassador.

Beckham presented the award, “You’re an amazing young lady whose story has moved millions… I’m privileged to present this award to you.”

Yousafzai, 16, who now resides in England, is best known for surviving a shot to the head by a Taliban gunman while on her school bus in Pakistan. She is also regarded for her advocacy of girls’ education. The attack happened almost a year ago.

[Image via David Beckham official Facebook and Victoria Beckham official Twitter.]