David Beckham will be awarded a knighthood next week after years of appeals from fans for the former England and Manchester United footballer to receive Britain’s highest honour.
Beckham’s knighthood will be announced in the King’s birthday honours list and will mean that the former England captain’s wife, Victoria, will be known as Lady Beckham.
Beckham, capped 115 times for the national team, has long been tipped to be knighted, but has remained an OBE — an honour he received in 2003.
The Beckhams attended a dinner with the King and Queen at Highgrove House just before the state visit to Italy
FINNBARR WEBSTER/GETTY IMAGES
Now a friend of the King, Beckham has become a supporter of the King’s Foundation and was made a charity ambassador by Charles last year. He visited Highgrove to learn more about the charity.
Beckham said at the time: “I’m excited to be working with The King’s Foundation and to have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity’s work.
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“I’ve always been keen to help young people to expand their horizons and I’m particularly looking forward to supporting the foundation’s education programmes and its efforts to ensure young people have greater access to nature.
“Having developed a love for the countryside I’m also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which is so central to the foundation’s work.
Meeting at Highgrove to discuss the King’s Foundation, Beckham said that he and Charles swapped beekeeping tips
COURTNEY LOUISE PHOTOGRAPHY/THE KING’S FOUNDATION/PA
“It was inspiring to hear from the King about the work of His Majesty’s foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens — and compare beekeeping tips.”
In May, Charles and Camilla visited the RHS Chelsea Flower Show along with Beckham as they launched a new “harmony” project to encourage more people into horticulture.
Beckham’s attendance at the west London event was the latest in a series of public and private invitations that have been extended to the footballer by the palace. He also joined the state banquet for the Emir of Qatar at Buckingham Palace in December.
Beckham, along with Alan Titchmarsh, will also help the King with a new “harmony campaign” which is designed to “encourage young people to consider careers in horticulture, to protect our green spaces and natural environment for future generations”.
The Queen commented on Beckham’s buttonhole rose
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The former Manchester United star, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, wore one of the King’s Roses in his buttonhole for the royal visit. As the Queen gestured at his newest adornment, he said: “It’s so beautiful, so beautiful, congratulations.”
The King was also overheard asking Beckham: “You got it, didn’t you?”
The former footballer replied: “It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.”
Letters inviting recipients to accept honours are sent out weeks in advance.
Beckham was also spotted in the queue for the Queen’s funeral after she died in September 2022.
Beckham’s knighthood comes after reports that his eldest son, Brooklyn, and Brooklyn’s wife, Nicola Peltz, missed his 50th birthday celebrations. Brooklyn did, however, accept an invitation to a dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at their house in Montecito, California.
Beckham is best known for his spell with the Red Devils, where he played from 1992-2003, winning the Champions League and several Premier League titles, among other trophies. He then moved to Real Madrid, and also had spells in the US with LA Galaxy, in France with Paris Saint-Germain and Italy with AC Milan.
Buckingham Palace and No 10 declined to comment.
