Rise, at last, Sir David Beckham? The footballer may finally be knighted
David Beckham is reported to be in line for a knighthood.
He will become a Sir in the King's birthday honours list next week and his wife, Victoria, will be known as Lady Beckham, The Sun reported.
The former England footballer has become increasingly close to the royals since becoming an ambassador for the King's Foundation last year.
It will bring to an end years of speculation about whether and when Beckham will be knighted, and is also expected to provide some relief amid an ongoing rift with his eldest son Brooklyn and wife Nicola Peltz-Beckham.
He was first nominated for a knighthood in 2011 but his nomination was blocked by the honours committee after he was caught up in a tax avoidance scheme which led to him being rejected by the inland revenue.
Tax authorities cleared Beckham in 2021, opening the door to him getting the honour.
He narrowly missed out on a knighthood in December's New Years Honours List which instead went to former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate, according to The Sun.
Last year, Beckham revealed he had swapped beekeeping tips with the King before being given an ambassadorial role with the monarch's charity. The pair are both keen horticulturalists.
Beckham said at the time: 'It was inspiring to hear from the King about the work of His Majesty's Foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens – and compare beekeeping tips!'
He has repeatedly rubbed shoulders with the King and Queen, and wore a new rose named in the King's Honour when he met them at the Chelsea Flower Show last month.
Beckham pinned a new pink and white bloom called The King's Rose to his lapel during his first ever visit to the show.
He also appeared to thank the King and Queen for a thoughtful 50th birthday gift after celebrating the milestone earlier in May.
'You got it, didn't you?' the King asked him. 'It was incredible, thank you,' Beckham replied. 'It was very kind.'
The Queen was heard to say: 'Nice to see you again, glad you got the roses.'
Beckham celebrated his 50th birthday this month with a lavish party which was shut down at 3am over a noise complaint.
His eldest son and his wife were absent, with a source telling The Telegraph that he and his wife, who is the daughter of US billionaire Nelson Peltz, feel that they have no meaningful private connection with the family and that he has been made to feel like an 'idiot' and 'stupid'.
The younger Beckhams were instead recent guests at a Montecito party attended by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Peltz, 30, and Meghan, 43, were said to have found 'common ground' over their casting as meddling American wives breaking up Britain's most famous families.
Meanwhile his second son Romeo Beckham has split with his girlfriend Kim Turnbull, according to the Daily Mail.
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