Beckham to be called Sir David Beckham
Footballing legend and global style icon David Beckham is set to receive a long-awaited knighthood in next week’s King’s Birthday Honours list, The Sun revealed Friday.
The 50-year-old former England and Manchester United star will soon be officially known as Sir David Beckham, while his wife, Spice Girl-turned-designer Victoria, will take on the title Lady Beckham.
The honour comes after years of public and political support for Beckham to be knighted for his services to sport, charity, and public life.
Often affectionately dubbed “Golden Balls,” Beckham has been on the national radar not just for his football career but also for his philanthropic work and role as a cultural ambassador.
The announcement will be a bright moment for the Beckham family, especially amid reports of a growing rift with eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz. Sources say the news will bring some much-needed joy and unity.
Beckham, a father of four who played 115 times for England, has formed a warm bond with King Charles in recent years, even serving as an ambassador for The King’s Foundation. Their friendship was on full display last month at the Chelsea Flower Show, where the King seemed to hint that the knighthood was on its way.
“You got it, didn’t you?” King Charles asked, to which Beckham responded, “It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.”
According to royal protocol, letters informing recipients of their inclusion in the honours list are sent out weeks in advance, making it likely that Beckham had already received notification of the honour at the time of that exchange.
Beckham was first put forward for a knighthood back in 2011 after playing a key role in securing the London 2012 Olympic Games. However, his nomination was blocked due to his involvement in a widely reported tax avoidance scheme. Since then, his finances have been cleared by HMRC, and any remaining obstacles to the title were removed.
Speculation that the knighthood was imminent peaked in 2022 after Beckham was praised for queuing 13 hours with the public to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II, a gesture that further cemented his standing as a beloved national figure.
