David Beckham has officially been knighted by King Charles at Windsor Castle, receiving one of the few honours that had eluded him during and after his extraordinary 21-year football career. The 50-year-old former England captain was recognised for his services to sport and charity in a ceremony attended by his wife Victoria and his parents, Ted and Sandra Beckham.
Beckham, who was dressed in a custom-made suit designed by Victoria, knelt before the King as he was touched on each shoulder with a sword, while a string quartet played Golden from the K-Pop Demon Hunters film. The pair shared a warm moment, smiling and chatting briefly, their friendship has grown in recent years through their shared love of gardening and beekeeping.
Speaking afterwards, Sir David admitted the moment was deeply emotional. He said he never imagined receiving such an honour, describing it as the proudest moment of his life. Born in Leytonstone, he reflected on how far he had come — from being a boy from East London to being knighted by the monarch at Windsor Castle.
King Charles reportedly complimented Beckham on his suit, which the football legend said was inspired by the King’s own classic style from his younger years. He explained that he had looked at old photos of Charles in morning suits before asking Victoria to design something similar for the occasion.
Beckham’s knighthood comes after years of charity work, particularly with UNICEF, which nominated him for the award alongside the British Fashion Council. Both organisations praised his dedication to helping children around the world, including his efforts to raise funds for girls’ education.
The honour also marks a personal turning point for Beckham, who was previously considered for knighthood in 2014 but was held back due to controversy surrounding a tax issue, which was later resolved. Despite setbacks, he continued his philanthropic work and strengthened his ties with the royal family, even gifting the King a jar of his homemade honey during a meeting in 2023.
For the ceremony, Beckham was joined by Victoria and his parents, though his eldest son Brooklyn was notably absent amid reports of a family rift. His son Romeo later shared a family photo with David, Victoria, Cruz, and Harper celebrating the occasion.
