David Beckham has officially been knighted by King Charles III, marking what the retired English football icon described as his “proudest moment.”
The former England captain received the honor for his contributions to sport and charity during an investiture ceremony held at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
Also recognized at the event were Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro and acclaimed stage performer Elaine Paige.
Beckham had been listed among the recipients in the King’s Birthday Honours earlier this year.
Reflecting on the achievement, Beckham told PA Media, “I’ve been very obviously lucky in my career to have won what I’ve won and done what I’ve done but to receive an honor like this, of a knight, is beyond anything that I ever thought that I would receive.”
He continued, “To be honest, a young boy from the east end of London, born in Leytonstone, and here at Windsor Castle, being honored by His Majesty the King, the most important and the most respected institution in the world – it’s quite a moment.”
Accompanied by his wife, Victoria, who designed the tailored suit he wore for the occasion, Beckham revealed that his outfit was inspired by the monarch himself.
“I looked at old pictures of him when he was quite young in morning suits and I was like, ‘OK, that’s what I want to wear,’ so I gave it to my wife and she did it.” He added that the King “was quite impressed” with the result.
The knighthood comes more than 20 years after Beckham was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Over a storied career, the 50-year-old represented England 115 times and claimed league titles in four countries before retiring from professional football in 2013.
Beyond the pitch, Beckham has long been recognized for his philanthropy. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, he established the “7 Fund” in 2015 to aid children facing global crises such as the Ebola outbreak, the name derived from his iconic Manchester United shirt number.
Since retirement, he has remained active in football, notably co-founding Inter Miami CF after being granted a Major League Soccer franchise in 2018.
Beckham and King Charles share a cordial rapport, having bonded over their mutual interest in sustainability and beekeeping.
The football legend became an ambassador for The King’s Foundation last year after exchanging “beekeeping tips” with the monarch at the royal estate in the Cotswolds.
