David Beckham, the former captain of the England national football team, has officially received a knighthood in recognition of his impact on both the sport and British society. The 50-year-old star, who appeared on King Charles III’s Birthday Honours list earlier this year, was knighted by the monarch during a formal ceremony held in Berkshire on Tuesday.
Beckham expressed immense pride following the ceremony. “This is one of the greatest honours of my life,” he said. “Everyone knows how much I love this country. I’ve always spoken about how meaningful the royal family is to me and my family. When I travel abroad, people constantly ask about our monarchy, and it always fills me with pride.”
He attended the special event at Windsor Castle with his wife Victoria and his parents, Sandra and David. Victoria Beckham, who earned her own OBE in 2017 for her achievements in fashion, designed the outfit her husband wore for the occasion. Beckham shared that King Charles complimented the suit, adding that the King has long inspired his style choices. “I looked at pictures of him from his younger years in morning suits and knew exactly what I wanted,” Beckham explained.
A legendary figure in football, Beckham represented England 115 times and wore the captain’s armband for six years. His illustrious club career began at Manchester United in 1992, followed by successful spells at Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 2013.
Beyond sports, Beckham helped secure the London 2012 Olympics and has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005. He received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 and famously queued for hours to pay respects after her passing in 2022. Today, he continues philanthropic work and co-owns football clubs Salford City and Inter Miami.
