He’s one of the most photographed men on the planet, but David Beckham did his best to hide from marauding paparazzo during an appearance in London on Tuesday.

The former Manchester United and England footballer pulled a baseball cap low over his head while hiding his instantly recognisable features behind a newspaper as a group of photographers armed with long-lens cameras lingered nearby.

But Beckham’s apparent desperation to go incognito had less to do with avoiding detection and more to do with his latest promotional venture as he filmed a new commercial in Ladbroke Grove.

The retired sportsman, 43, was on hand to shoot the ad as part of his role as brand ambassador for luxurious 5-star hotel The Venetian Macao and by extension its Macao based owner, Sands China Limited – a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

With the Sands group spending a reported $1.1billion on rebranding its Sands Cotai Central (SCC) into London themed hotel The Londoner, British icon Beckham – who was born in nearby Leytonstone – was the perfect choice to spearhead a new commercial on its behalf.

A spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline: ‘David is shooting an advert in some of his favorite places around London for long term hotel partner Sands.’

With some of those favourite places featuring traditional English touchstones including an old fashioned red phone box and pillar box, Beckham took centre stage as filming commenced.

And his baseball cap, heavily tinted sunglasses and large broadsheet newspaper suggested the theme of the ad revolved around his status as one of the most instantly recognisable celebrities on the planet.

Extras masquerading as photographers were filmed loitering on a streetcorner, evidently on the lookout for the former England captain, who looked typically stylish in a monochrome coat and slim-fitting jeans.

Beckham was later filmed slapping shipping labels addressed to Macao on a variety of local objects – a reference to The Londoner’s desire to create a very British experience for its visitors.

The shoot comes after David and wife Victoria were revealed to be the 49th highest tax payers in the United Kingdom.

According to The Sunday Times Tax List The Beckhams paid £12.7 million in tax due from their dividends and other levies in the accounts of their two principal companies.

The couple were named on Companies House files as being linked to finance firm Ingenious, which invested in films including Avatar in a bid to secure tax relief.

It has previously been reported the former Manchester United and England footballer was overlooked for a knighthood because of this investment, which has been subjected to scrutiny by HMRC.