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David Beckham says knighthood 'truly humbling' - as rock star and acting great also honoured

David Beckham says knighthood 'truly humbling' - as rock star and acting great also honoured

Yahoo15 hours ago

David Beckham has called it "truly humbling" and an "emotional moment" to be made a knight in the King's Birthday Honours.
The former England captain receives the honour alongside The Who frontman and Oscar-winning actor .
Singer and actress Elaine Paige, novelist Pat Baker, and former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt have been awarded damehoods.
Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daley and , as well as darts stars and Luke Humphries, will all get MBEs.
was made an OBE in 2003, but now finally becomes Sir David after being in the running for many years. He gets the honour for his services to sport and charity.
Sir David was said to be close to a knighthood in 2014, but reportedly lost out after HM Customs and Revenue flagged his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme.
"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," he told PA news agency.
"To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true," added the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star.
Sir David, who recently turned 50, was seen chatting to the day before his honour was announced as part of his role as an ambassador for the monarch's foundation.
He said he'd been fortunate to "represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation".
Sir David added: "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.
"It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I'm immensely proud and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family."
On the music front, The Who's singer got a knighthood at age 81.
Sir Roger - known for hits such as My Generation and Pinball Wizard - led the Teenage Cancer Trust at Royal Albert Hall concert series 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," said Sir Roger.
"It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much."
TV presenter Tess Daly called her MBE "the greatest surprise of my life".
"I don't think I've come back down to earth yet," she told PA. "I didn't see it coming, and it almost didn't happen because the letter went to the wrong address.
"And thank goodness someone very kind found me. And so by the time I got it, I only had, I think it was two or three days left to accept it."
Her co-star on Strictly, Claudia Winkleman, said she was "incredibly grateful" to be recognised.
"I will buy a hat and am taking my mum [to receive the honour]. I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble," she said.
West End legend Elaine Page - who has starred in shows such as Cats and Evita - was also honoured for services to music and charity.
The singer said she was in "shock" at becoming a dame
"I've got all these different emotions coming at me all at once," said the 77-year-old. I'm proud and I feel grateful and I'm thrilled and surprised, and so it's been quite a lot to take in."
Dame Elaine has roles at two charities - The Children's Trust and The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, which supports disabled tennis players.
She's also presented a BBC radio show for more than 20 years.
Read more:
More than 1,200 people from across the country were given honours in the latest list.
Eleven-year-old disability campaigner Carmela Chillery-Watson is the youngest to be recognised after helping raise more than £400,000 for Muscular Dystrophy UK.
The oldest is 106-year-old William Irwin, founder of the Coleraine Winemakers Club, who gets a BEM (British Empire Medal) for services to the community.
However, the top accolade has been awarded to sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, the man behind the Angel of the North, who is made Companion of Honour for services to art.
There can only be 65 companions at any one time.
Other notable names on the list include former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt - who famously had a prominent role holding a sword at the King's coronation - and is now a dame; and former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, who gets an OBE.

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Gerard Butler Made People 'Cower' on 'How To Train Your Dragon 'Set While Reprising Stoick the Vast Role (Exclusive)
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Gerard Butler Made People 'Cower' on 'How To Train Your Dragon 'Set While Reprising Stoick the Vast Role (Exclusive)

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THE DISH: Wool Growers makes LA Times list of best restaurants in state
THE DISH: Wool Growers makes LA Times list of best restaurants in state

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THE DISH: Wool Growers makes LA Times list of best restaurants in state

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David Beckham, Gary Oldman, Elaine Paige and others honored by King Charles III

timean hour ago

David Beckham, Gary Oldman, Elaine Paige and others honored by King Charles III

LONDON -- Arise Sir David, Sir Gary and Sir Roger. And Dame Elaine, Dame Pat and Dame Penny. Former England soccer captain David Beckham, Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman and The Who's frontman Roger Daltrey were knighted in King Charles III's birthday honors list released late Friday. Elaine Paige, the renowned musicals singer, Booker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker and former Conservative government minister Penny Mordaunt were given damehoods, the female equivalent of a knighthood. The honors, which aim to reward individuals for their contributions to British life, are awarded twice a year to celebrities and public figures as well as ordinary people: Once at New Year's, and then in June to mark the king's birthday. The winners are chosen by civil servants' committees based on nominations from the government and the public. The awards are usually given out by the king or a senior royal acting in his place at Buckingham Palace. Beckham, 50, was widely expected to be knighted following speculation last week that appeared to be based on a conversation he had with the monarch at the Chelsea Flower Show last month. As well as representing England 115 times, including 59 times as captain, Beckham played for some of Europe's most venerable clubs, most notably Manchester United and Real Madrid. He has been knighted for his services to sport and to charity, having partnered with UNICEF, the U.N.'s children's fund, for two decades and campaigned with a charity working to eradicate malaria. Beckham also played a pivotal role in London being awarded the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. '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 honor," he said. Oldman, 67, was recognized for his services to drama both on screen and on stage. He won an Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 2017 film 'Darkest Hour," and recently dazzled audiences in the Apple TV spy thriller series ' Slow Horses.' Daltrey, who co-founded The Who in 1964, has been recognized for services to charity as well as music, having been a patron of 'Teenage Cancer Trust' since 2000. The 81-year-old, who led the charity's concert series at Royal Albert Hall for more than two decades, said he was humbled by the award. 'It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much," he said. Paige, 77, was honoured for her services to charity as well as music. She has held senior roles at a charity supporting young people with acquired brain injury and another one that supports disabled tennis players. 'I've got all these different emotions coming at me all at once," she said. "I'm proud and I feel grateful and I'm thrilled and surprised, and so it's been quite a lot to take in.' Barker, 82, known for 'The Regeneration Trilogy," said she thought the letter announcing her damehood was from 'really angry' tax authorities. 'Nobody else does that kind of quality of paper," she said. 'I still sort of had to read the first paragraph several times before it sank in.' A year on from losing her seat at the general election when her Conservative Party lost office, Mordaunt said it was 'lovely to be appreciated in this way.' Mordaunt, 52, saw her profile boosted during the king's coronation ceremony in 2023. The former lawmaker made a memorable appearance bearing the 'sword of state," the first time the duty had been carried out by a woman. Antony Gormley, the sculptor who was knighted in 2014, was made a 'Companion of Honour' for his services to art. The award is one of the most prestigious that the monarch can bestow to citizens in Britain and across the Commonwealth, as there are only 65 companions at any one time. Introduced in 1917 by King George V, the award recognizes people who have made 'a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government lasting over a long period of time.' Current members include British environmentalist David Attenborough, Canadian author Margaret Atwood and one of Britain's greatest-ever athletes Sebastian Coe. The honors don't just reward people in the public eye. More than 1,200 people received honours in the latest list. Women made up 48% of those honored, with 11% of recipients from ethnic minority backgrounds. The oldest recipient was 106-year-old World War II veteran William Irwin, who was awarded a British Empire Medal, for his services to the community. The youngest was 11-year-old disability campaigner Carmela Chillery-Watson, who was made a 'Member of the Most Excellent Order British Empire," or MBE. Chillery-Watson, who has LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, has become the youngest ever recipient of the award for helping raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for Muscular Dystrophy UK. In what is thought to be a first, three members of the same family were named in the same list. Jenna Speirs, her mother Caroline and father Duncan were each awarded a British Empire Medal for founding a children's cancer charity called Calum's Cabin after Jenna's twin brother died of an inoperable brain tumour aged 12. Campaigners who have fought to tackle the rise of knife crime were also recognized. Pooja Kanda, whose 16-year-old son was murdered with a ninja sword near his home, was awarded the Order of the British Empire, or OBE. Alison Madgin, the mother of 18-year-old Samantha Madgin, who was knifed to death, was made an MBE alongside her daughter Carly Barrett.

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