It’s official: Eleven years after first being nominated and four months after the decision was finalized, former Manchester United and England star David Beckham has been knighted for his “services to football and British society.”
Beckham, 50, received the prestigious honor from King Charles during a ceremony at Windsor Castle in Berkshire. “I couldn’t be prouder,” Beckham said. “Everyone knows how patriotic I am and how much I love my country. I’ve always said how important the royal family is to my family.”
Beckham attended the ceremony with his parents, Sandra and David, and his wife, Victoria Beckham, the former Spice Girls member who was herself appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2017 for her contributions to the fashion industry.
Over his illustrious 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 England in three World Cups and two European Championships.
A product of Manchester United’s academy, Beckham spent 11 seasons with the club under manager Alex Ferguson before transferring to Real Madrid in 2003 for £25 million. After four seasons in Spain, he joined the LA Galaxy, with loan spells at AC Milan, and ended his playing career with Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.
Today, Beckham is a co-owner of Salford City, a League Two club, alongside his former England and United teammate Gary Neville, as well as a part-owner of MLS club Inter Miami.
“I’ve been fortunate to travel the world,” Beckham reflected. “Everywhere I go, people want to talk to me about our royal family—and that fills me with immense pride.”
First published: 02:49, 11.05.25