David Beckham to finally be awarded knighthood after string of near misses & disappointments over more than a decade

The Irish Sun

a day ago

DAVID Beckham is to finally be awarded a knighthood, The Sun can reveal.
The footie legend, 50, will become a 'Sir' in the King's Birthday Honours list next week.
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David Beckham is to finally be awarded a knighthood - with wife Victoria set to be known as Lady Beckham
Credit: Getty
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The ex-England and Man United star has longed for a knighthood for years
Credit: PA
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David has struck up a firm friendship with King Charles
Credit: PA
His Spice Girl wife Victoria will be known as Lady Beckham.
Ex-England and Man United star Becks has longed for a knighthood for years.
The news will also bring some joy to the Beckham household amid a rift with their eldest son Brooklyn and his wife
Politicians and fellow sports stars have spent years calling for the man known as
READ MORE ON DAVID BECKHAM
The father of four — who played 115 times for
And the monarch dropped a potential hint last month that his wait was coming to an end.
Countryside-loving Becks, who is an ambassador of The King's Foundation, was seen
Coveted honour
He shares a passion for horticulture with Charles and sported the King's rose in his lapel.
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Charles asked him: 'You got it, didn't you?'
Becks replied: 'It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.'
David Beckham meets with King Charles at Chelsea Flower Show
Letters inviting recipients to accept honours are sent out weeks in advance - and one may have already landed on David's mat at the time of their chat.
He was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 after helping to secure the London 2012 Olympics.
But he was
Becks retired from playing in 2013, and his finances were cleared by the taxman at least four years ago - paving the way for him to finally get the coveted honour.
Many thought it would finally come in 2022, after he spent 13 hours queuing with the public to
But he was again left waiting for the honour.
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The Beckham household will be glad of the good news amid a rift with their eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz
Credit: Getty
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The Beckhams from left to right: Romeo, Rome's former girlfriend Kim Turnbull, Harper, Victoria, David, Cruz and Cruz's girlfriend Jackie Apostel
Credit: Tim Stewart
The Sun understands he narrowly missed out on a knighthood in the New Year Honours List published in December last year.
Former England football manager Gareth Southgate got the award.
David had been
He received it from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, watched by proud Victoria, sons Brooklyn and Romeo, and his grandparents.
David and his wife — who shot to fame with the Spice Girls before becoming a successful fashion designer — have an estimated combined net worth of £500million.
David also has a long history of charitable work, which will have been considered by officials on the Honours Committee.
It was inspiring to hear from The King about the work of His Majesty's Foundation
David Beckham
Last year, he was formally made a charity ambassador by the King, and beekeeper Becks was buzzing with excitement at teaming up with him.
Tours of the grounds help to fund workshops and courses in traditional skills and crafts, and the former footie star met woodworking and embroidery students.
Becks said at the time: 'I'm excited to be working with The King's Foundation and to have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity's work.
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Former footie ace David played 115 times for England
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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David and wife Victoria have an estimated combined net worth of £500million
Credit: Instagram
"I've always been keen to help young people to expand their horizons and I'm particularly looking forward to supporting the Foundation's education programmes and its efforts to ensure young people have greater access to nature.
'Having developed a love for the countryside I'm also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which is so central to the Foundation's work.
'It was inspiring to hear from The King about the work of His Majesty's Foundation during my recent
In 2020, he teamed up with the Chelsea Pensioners as he backed The Sun's campaign to save the Poppy Appeal amid the devastating Covid lockdown.
He said he was 'in awe' of the veterans as he delivered poppies to their London HQ.
David added: 'With another lockdown coming it is more important than ever that we support our veterans.'
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David teamed up with the Chelsea Pensioners as he backed The Sun's campaign to save the Poppy Appeal
Credit: The Sun
Becks, also dad to son Cruz and daughter Harper, has carried out lots of charity work focusing on children, and was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador 20 years ago.
To mark
He was also a founding member of the leadership council of charity Malaria No More in 2009, helping to eradicate the disease, even visiting No 10 to highlight the issue.
In 2023, he delighted the Brentford Penguins - a football team for children with Down's Syndrome — with a visit to celebrate them winning one of The Sun's Who Cares Wins awards.
He took footballing son Romeo with him to lead a surprise training session.
The honours will be formally announced later this month.
The government does not comment on them beforehand.
WINNER ON PITCH AND OFF
BECKHAM enjoyed an 18-year career that included winning titles in four countries — England, Spain, the US and France — and made him one of the world's best-known footballers. Some of his most striking moments are:
APRIL 1995
: Becks makes his Premier League debut for Manchester United in a 0-0 draw against Leeds.
AUGUST 1996
: Scores famous goal from halfway line against Wimbledon.
MARCH 1997
: Meets Spice Girl Victoria at an Old Trafford charity match.
JANUARY 1998
: Posh and Becks announce their engagement.
JUNE 1998
: Plays in his first World Cup with England but is sent off in defeat against Argentina.
MARCH 1999
: Has his first child, son Brooklyn, with fiancée Victoria.
MAY 1999
: Wins the treble with United as they beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
JULY 1999
: Weds Posh in lavish ceremony in Dublin's Luttrellstown Castle.
NOVEMBER 2000
: Named England captain for first time.
OCTOBER 2001
: Celebrates as his free-kick goal against Greece takes England to World Cup, left.
JUNE 2003
: Joins Real Madrid after falling out of favour with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
JANUARY 2005
: Becomes a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, having previously supported its work for children.
MARCH 2005
: Opens his first football academy.
JULY 2005
: Helps London to win its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
JULY 2007
: Joins US side LA Galaxy, before two loan moves to Italian giants AC Milan while in LA.
JANUARY 2013
: Joins Paris Saint-Germain, donating wages to kids' charity.
MAY 2013:
Retires from professional football.
FEBRUARY 2015:
The 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund is launched to mark his tenth year as goodwill ambassador.
JUNE 2024
: Becomes a King's Foundation ambassador.