LONDON — The renowned former England soccer captain, David Beckham, is poised to receive a prestigious honor in the form of a knighthood in the upcoming honors list issued by King Charles III, as reported by British media outlets.
For twenty years, Beckham has served as an ambassador for the U.N. children’s fund, and his commendable contributions to both soccer and British society are apparently set to be fully acknowledged next week.
Upon receiving this knighthood, Beckham will be addressed as “Sir David,” while his wife Victoria, well-known for her musical career with the Spice Girls and achievements in the fashion industry, will become “Lady Beckham.” David Beckham was previously recognized with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003 for his services to soccer, whereas Victoria’s contributions to fashion earned her the same honor in a subsequent New Year Honours list.
New Year’s and the king’s birthday in June are the two annual occasions on which such honors are granted, with government recommendations largely guiding the selections, although the monarch has input as well. Neither Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office nor Buckingham Palace has commented, maintaining the traditional discretion on such matters. The independent verification of this accolade by the press has yet to happen, though the original revelation came from The Sun tabloid.
In a video shared by The Sun, during this month’s Chelsea Flower Show, King Charles is seen humorously inquiring whether Beckham had received his 50th birthday gift. Beckham responds with gratitude for the king’s kindness.
The relationship between Beckham and the monarchy isn’t new; they have encountered each other numerous times, including state functions. Additionally, Beckham took on the role of ambassador for The King’s Foundation last year. This charity, initiated by Charles in 1990, aims at education and sustainability.
David Beckham’s sports credentials are formidable. He holds the distinction of being the only English soccer player to net goals in three distinct World Cups, and he was pivotal in Manchester United’s memorable wins in 1999 that included the Premier League, FA Cup, and the Champions League.
He ranks third for the number of appearances on the England national team, having played 115 matches and captained the team 59 times. After parting ways with Manchester United in 2003, Beckham graced the fields of Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy, and Paris Saint-Germain. He is currently a co-owner of Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer team.
Despite these successes, Beckham’s career did see challenging moments. During the 1998 World Cup in France, his infamous retaliation against Argentina’s Diego Simeone led to a red card, causing backlash and being partially held responsible for England’s disappointing tournament exit.
Beckham candidly recounted this difficult period in the 2023 Netflix documentary series, “Beckham,” which earned him an Emmy in 2024. He detailed the intense scrutiny he faced, including a chilling incident involving an effigy outside a London pub.
Beyond his sporting life, Beckham is recognized as a fashion icon and a steadfast charity advocate, primarily through UNICEF’s “The David Beckham UNICEF Fund,” created in 2015 to honor their decade-long collaboration. Beckham’s involvement was also crucial in securing London as the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
If secured, this knighthood would place Beckham amongst an exclusive group of soccer legends who have been knighted, joining the ranks of greats like Sir Geoff Hurst and Sir Bobby Charlton from England’s 1966 World Cup victory squad, as well as Sir Kenny Dalglish from Scotland.