Does David Beckham deserve a knighthood?
The ex-England and Manchester United footballer has become increasingly close to the royals since becoming a King's Foundation ambassador last year.
However, the decision, which has ended years of near misses and disappointments, has proven to be contentious.
According to an exclusive poll carried out by The Telegraph, the vote is split with 53 per cent of over 36,000 respondents deeming Beckham deserving of a knighthood.
For many, such as reader Dan Errington, the knighthood is a well-deserved accolade. 'He deserves it for being an impeccable role model for young up-and-coming footballers, especially considering he came from an east London area that was quite deprived.'
Classic 'tall poppy'
Roger Grant considered it a 'disgrace' that Beckham has not been knighted before now.
'He was a proud captain of the England football team and a credit to the game. He has been an untiring and often unpublicised supporter of charities and individuals in need. He has been the classic 'tall poppy' that the naysayers want to cut down to size,' he wrote.
A considerable number of readers also shared their admiration for how Beckham patiently waited in line with the public to pay his respects to Elizabeth II during her lying in state in Westminster Hall.
'Just one example of his humility and respect', remarked Alex Erwing, adding: 'He's always represented his country with passion, dignity and grace.'
For Shirmel Duggins, she would choose Beckham 'any day to receive a knighthood over Sadiq Khan, who is hell-bent on destroying our beloved London'.
'Beckham loves his country and does great work – ask yourself this, what has Khan done for our country lately?'
'Only true heroes should be knighted'
However, 47 per cent of respondents to the Telegraph poll voted that Beckham does not deserve a knighthood, with many joining Catherine Pepinster in questioning the very concept of the honours system.
Writing for The Telegraph, the author and historian wrote: 'This system is now so broken that the people who truly deserve recognition – the volunteers on whom Britain relies to give their time and skills for free – receive the lowlier gongs if any mention at all.'
Reader Philippa Keith concurred: 'A rich and famous person getting awarded for being rich and famous is not really an honour.'
Meanwhile, Michael Lee, in his late 70s, bemoaned how he 'never gets a mention'.
He shared: 'I live in one of the most deprived areas of the UK. Forty-five years ago I started a business, labour-intensive, and have provided jobs to thousands with some still with me from the early days. I now have a multi-million-pound turnover.
'I've paid my taxes, never sucked up to politicians. Just plodded on, still working. There are plenty like me.'
Others readers, like Vicki Lester, criticised the former England captain's seeming self-entitlement when it comes to receiving a prestigious knighthood.
'There has been so much fuss about Beckham allegedly being desperate to get it – and kicking off when he didn't – that it is not now arriving as a lovely 'what a delightful surprise' moment at all,' she wrote.
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