
UK: David Beckham, Gary Oldman and Roger Daltrey knighted – DW – 06/14/2025
After years of waiting, former England soccer star David Beckham was awarded knighthood in King Charles' annual birthday honors list. Actor Gary Oldman and musician Roger Daltrey were also knighted.
Former England footballer David Beckham, The Who's musician Roger Daltrey and actor Gary Oldman were knighted in King Charles's annual birthday honors list.
The 50-year-old former player, who can now call himself Sir David Beckham, told the PA news agency that he could never have imagined receiving such an honorable award.
"I'm immensely proud and it's a very emotional moment for me to share with my family," he said.
Football star and celebrity
Beckham joined Manchester United as a trainee in 1993 and went on to make nearly 400 appearances for the club, winning a string of titles and cups.
He then played for Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, and AC Milan. He also captained his country 58 times and made 115 appearances.
David Beckham was the captain of the England national team Image: John Giles/PA Wire/empics/picture alliance
One of the highlights: in 1999, he won the Champions League final with Manchester United against FC Bayern.
His 1999 marriage to fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham cemented his celebrity status, which far surpassed his sporting achievements.
In 2003, Beckham had already been elevated to the rank of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Honors on King's birthday
67-year-old Oldman began his career on stage as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company before rising to prominence in film. He won the Best Actor Oscar for playing Winston Churchill in the 2017 drama "Darkest Hour."
Gary Oldman played Winston Churchill in the 2017 drama "Darkest Hour" Image: Invision
He also had roles in the "Dark Knight" trilogy and the "Harry Potter" movie series. More recently, he starred in the TV spy drama "Slow Horses."
Roger Daltrey, the lead singer of the rock band The Who and a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust, was knighted for his charitable work.
The British government announced that more than 1,200 people received honors for their achievements, particularly those who dedicated their time to public service.
King Charles's official birthday will be celebrated with the annual "Trooping the Colour" military parade in London on Saturday. His actual birthday is November 14.
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DW
2 days ago
- DW
UK: David Beckham, Gary Oldman and Roger Daltrey knighted – DW – 06/14/2025
After years of waiting, former England soccer star David Beckham was awarded knighthood in King Charles' annual birthday honors list. Actor Gary Oldman and musician Roger Daltrey were also knighted. Former England footballer David Beckham, The Who's musician Roger Daltrey and actor Gary Oldman were knighted in King Charles's annual birthday honors list. The 50-year-old former player, who can now call himself Sir David Beckham, told the PA news agency that he could never have imagined receiving such an honorable award. "I'm immensely proud and it's a very emotional moment for me to share with my family," he said. Football star and celebrity Beckham joined Manchester United as a trainee in 1993 and went on to make nearly 400 appearances for the club, winning a string of titles and cups. He then played for Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, and AC Milan. He also captained his country 58 times and made 115 appearances. David Beckham was the captain of the England national team Image: John Giles/PA Wire/empics/picture alliance One of the highlights: in 1999, he won the Champions League final with Manchester United against FC Bayern. His 1999 marriage to fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham cemented his celebrity status, which far surpassed his sporting achievements. In 2003, Beckham had already been elevated to the rank of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Honors on King's birthday 67-year-old Oldman began his career on stage as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company before rising to prominence in film. He won the Best Actor Oscar for playing Winston Churchill in the 2017 drama "Darkest Hour." Gary Oldman played Winston Churchill in the 2017 drama "Darkest Hour" Image: Invision He also had roles in the "Dark Knight" trilogy and the "Harry Potter" movie series. More recently, he starred in the TV spy drama "Slow Horses." Roger Daltrey, the lead singer of the rock band The Who and a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust, was knighted for his charitable work. The British government announced that more than 1,200 people received honors for their achievements, particularly those who dedicated their time to public service. King Charles's official birthday will be celebrated with the annual "Trooping the Colour" military parade in London on Saturday. His actual birthday is November 14. Edited by:


Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Arise Sir David! Football Legend Beckham Knighted
Former England football captain and global fashion icon David Beckham was knighted on Friday for his services to sport and charity, with The Who singer Roger Daltrey and actor Gary Oldman also receiving the honour. Beckham, who played 115 times for England as well as for some of the world's most high-profile clubs including Manchester United and Real Madrid, will now be known as "sir" and his wife Victoria, a former member of the Spice Girls pop group, will be known as Lady Beckham. The 50-year-old, who has long been in the running for a knighthood, was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2003 -- a lesser award in Britain's honours system. Victoria later received the same award for services to the fashion industry. "Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour," Beckham said in a statement issued to the Press Association. "I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment," he added. Daltrey, who co-founded The Who in 1964, will also take the title of sir having been recognised for his services to charity and music in King Charles III's Birthday Honours list. The 81-year-old singer has been a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000, holding fundraising concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall for more than two decades. "It's kind of weird, but I am deeply honoured to get this, especially for the charity for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and I accept it on their behalf really, because this honour is really for all unsung heroes," the "My Generation" singer told the Press Association. "It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much," he added. Oldman, who won a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in 2017's "Darkest Hour", also received a knighthood for his services to drama. The 67-year-old's films have earned over $11 billion, and his credits include the "Harry Potter" series, The "Dark Knight" Trilogy and "Air Force One", along with cameo appearances in sitcom "Friends" and music videos for David Bowie and Guns N' Roses. Stage star Elaine Page, who played Eva Peron in the first production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Evita", and novelist Pat Barker have both been made dames. Barker is known for her World War I "Regeneration Trilogy", the first book of which was turned into a Hollywood film starring Jonathan Pryce. Beckham's knighthood is the culmination of years of tireless efforts to transcend football and turn himself into a global icon at the intersection of sport, fashion and business. The honour, one of the highest bestowed by the UK state, "is a powerful symbolic marker", Marie Agnes Parmentier, professor of marketing at the University of Montreal and author of several papers on "Posh and Becks", explained to AFP. Even at the height of his football career, Beckham was building his global brand with thought to his retirement. His appearance in a sarong, revelations that he used make-up and his eccentric hairstyles were all feverishly gobbled up by the UK's tabloid press. He also had to overcome the tag as England's "most-hated man" after being sent off during the 1998 World Cup in a knockout game against Argentina. Beckham is understood to have been on the verge of receiving a knighthood after helping London win its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. But UK authorities placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme, according to previous reports. He was subsequently cleared. Roger Daltrey, who co-founded The Who in 1964, has been honoured for his services to charity and music AFP Gary Oldman's films have earned over $11 billion, and his credits include the Harry Potter series, The Dark Knight Trilogy and Air Force One AFP


Int'l Business Times
24-05-2025
- Int'l Business Times
Highlights From Cannes As Film Festival Wraps Up
As the Cannes film festival hands out its prizes, AFP looks back at some of the highlights of a politically charged fortnight of screenings and celebrity sightings. The festival began on May 13 with a flap about a new dress code which states that extravagantly large dresses are prohibited on the red carpet, as well as "total nudity". Oscar-winner Halle Berry was the first victim, with the "Monster's Ball" star forced into a wardrobe change for the opening ceremony because her dress was too long. Although many people seemed to flout the guidelines, Indian model and influencer Snigdha Baruah was forced to remove a flowing train from her dress having been barred by security at the VIP entrance. Not content to let the dresses steal all the limelight, "Succession" star and jury member Jeremy Strong has brought some eye-catching menswear in bold colours to the Riviera. After years of scandals in the film industry and pressure to take a stand, the festival announced a new #MeToo policy by barring an actor in a prominent French film from the red carpet because of rape allegations. Theo Navarro-Mussy, who appears in "Dossier 137", denies the allegations and an initial police investigation was closed last month. This year's gathering on the Riviera marked a step in the rehabilitation of scandal-plagued star Kevin Spacey, however, who accepted a lifetime achievement award at a charity gala. Australian legend Nicole Kidman meanwhile issued a plea for more women directors, saying their number was still "incredibly low". Only three women have ever won a Palme d'Or. A trio of actors made their highly anticipated directorial debuts, with differing fortunes. "Babygirl" actor Harris Dickinson, 28, and "Twilight" star Kristen Stewart, 35, left Cannes with praise ringing in their ears for their films, "Urchin" and "The Chronology of Water". Reviews for Scarlett Johansson's first turn behind the camera, "Eleanor the Great", would have made for more difficult reading, however. There was no escaping the war in Gaza this year. Hundreds of film figures signed an open letter on the eve of the festival calling on the movie industry to call out "genocide". Iranian film maker Sepideh Farsi's heart-wrenching documentary about slain Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, killed in an Israeli air strike on her home in Gaza last month, left its audience in stunned silence when it premiered on May 15. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange walked the red carpet wearing a T-shirt bearing the names of killed Gaza children as he promoted a documentary about his own life. Amid the champagne and air kisses, US President Donald Trump was also focusing minds, particularly in the Cannes film market where the deals are cut for new projects. Trump's pledge to implement 100-percent tariffs on movies "produced in foreign lands" provoked a mixture of horror, disbelief and mockery from industry insiders. "I can't find myself taking it very seriously. It's just too surreal," American director Wes Anderson told AFP. "Taxi Driver" star Robert De Niro slammed "America's philistine president" in his opening ceremony speech. Tom Cruise swept into Cannes on a steamroller of hype around "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" which premiered to mixed reviews in the first week. Director Christopher McQuarrie revealed that Cruise -- who does his own stunts -- took his risk-taking a little far during a shoot in South Africa and could have died. "He was laying on the wing of the plane. His arms were hanging over the front of the wing. We could not tell if he was conscious or not," said the US filmmaker. Saturday's closing ceremony was the final act of a drama-filled day that saw Cannes suffer a more than five-hour power cut. Local authorities blamed suspected sabotage at a nearby electricity substation and a pylon. The reaction of French emergency services was also one of the biggest talking points among attendees this year after a man was knocked down by a falling palm tree in a freak accident during the first week. He was whisked to hospital and discharged several days later to return home. US actor Robert De Niro (R) received the Honorary Palme d'Or from US actor Leonardo DiCaprio AFP McQuarrie said the crew feared Cruise (left) had passed out during one stunt on a biplane AFP Kevin Spacey is 'glad to be back working' AFP Halle Berry was among the stars on the red carpet AFP Scarlett Johansson poses with actress June Squibb who plays the lead role in 'Eleanor the Great' AFP At the screening of Wes Anderson's "The Phoenician Scheme" on May 18, 2025. AFP