Sir David Beckham: Football Icon Knighted by King Charles
Sir David Beckham has officially joined British sporting royalty, receiving his knighthood from King Charles in a ceremony at Windsor Castle. The former England captain, 50, was honoured for his contributions to football and charity — something he described as “the proudest moment” of his life.
“I’ve been very obviously lucky in my career to have won what I’ve won and done what I’ve done,” Beckham said. “But to receive an honour like this, of a knight, is beyond anything that I ever thought that I would receive.”
Beckham, who grew up in Leytonstone, East London, said the recognition felt deeply personal. “To be honest, a young boy from the East End of London, born in Leytonstone, and here at Windsor Castle, being honoured by his majesty the king – the most important and the most respected institution in the world – it’s quite a moment.”
He admitted the news brought him to tears. “I cried when I first found out, and possibly for a few months after it as well,” he told Sky News. “This week has been really emotional... I’ve not been nervous, I’ve just been emotional.” Beckham attended the ceremony with his wife Victoria Beckham, who earned her own OBE in 2017 and designed his tailored grey suit for the occasion.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has long been seen as one of Britain’s most influential sports figures. Over a 20-year playing career, he represented England 115 times, captaining the team for six years and playing in three World Cups. With Manchester United, he helped secure the 1999 treble — winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Beyond football, Beckham has devoted years to philanthropy. Since 2005, he’s worked with Unicef as a goodwill ambassador, launching the 7 Fund to protect and support vulnerable children worldwide. In 2024, he became an ambassador for the King’s Foundation, helping promote environmental education and youth development.
“I think mostly it’s because of the career that I’ve had and the teams that I’ve played for and the things that I’ve won and the respect that I’ve gained throughout my career, and I think that that is why people listen to me,” he said. “It’s a very powerful tool to have in charity... I just found very quickly that we could make change with things that I said and things that I got involved in.”
Beckham, affectionately nicknamed “Goldenballs”, said the moment still feels surreal. “I couldn’t be prouder,” he said. “People know how patriotic I am – I love my country. I’ve always said how important the monarchy is to my family.” And as for what his new title means at home? The star laughed, “I’m not insisting, [but] if they would like to call me Sir Dad or, you know, or Sir Son, they can.”
