Former England captain Sir David Beckham has officially received a knighthood for his services to football and British society. The 50-year-old appeared on King Charles’ Birthday Honours list earlier this year and was knighted by the monarch during a ceremony in Berkshire on Tuesday.
Beckham expresses pride and patriotism
“I couldn’t be prouder,” said Beckham. “People know how patriotic I am. I love my country.” He emphasised how important the monarchy is to his family. “I’ve always said how significant it is for us,” he added. Beckham said that wherever he travels, people want to talk about the British monarchy. “It makes me proud,” he said.
Beckham attended the ceremony at Windsor Castle with his wife Victoria and his parents Sandra and David.
A royal-inspired suit
Victoria, who received an OBE in 2017 for her work in the fashion industry, designed the suit her husband wore at the castle. “[King Charles] was quite impressed with my suit,” Beckham said. “He’s the most elegantly dressed man I know. He inspired many of my looks over the years and definitely inspired this one.” Beckham explained that he wanted to wear a morning suit similar to those King Charles wore as a young man. “I showed old photos of him to my wife and said, ‘That’s what I want to wear,’ and she made it for me,” he said.
A storied football career
Beckham earned 115 caps for England and captained the national team for six years between 2000 and 2006. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder represented his country in three World Cups and two European Championships.
He rose through United’s academy in 1992 and spent 11 years in the first team before moving to Real Madrid in 2003 for £25 million. Beckham played four years in Spain before joining LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer. During his time in Los Angeles, he had two loan spells at AC Milan and later finished his career at Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.
Beyond the football field
Beckham’s influence reaches far beyond sport. Born in east London, he played a key role in securing the 2012 Olympics for London. He has worked with Unicef since 2005 and had a fund named after him in 2015 to mark ten years of collaboration.
In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him an OBE. Nearly two decades later, Beckham waited more than 12 hours in line to pay his respects as the Queen lay in state after her death in 2022. “It’s special to be here, to celebrate and to hear the different stories that people have,” he said at the time.
Supporting education and sport
Beckham became an ambassador for the King’s Foundation in 2024, supporting education and environmental awareness among young people. He co-owns League Two side Salford City with former Manchester United and England teammate Gary Neville. He also serves as co-owner of Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Sir David Beckham’s knighthood marks the latest honour in a career that has combined sport, style, and service to his country.
