15 hours ago
'Finally': David Beckham receives long-awaited knighthood in King's Birthday Honours list, alongside 'controversial' London Mayor Sadiq Khan
It's taken longer than a World Cup penalty shootout, but David Beckham has finally scored a knighthood thanks to King Charles III.
The 50-year-old football icon and philanthropist was named in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours list for his contributions to sport and charity, a recognition he described as "immensely proud" to receive.
"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.
"To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true."
The former Manchester United midfielder and England captain, who led the national team for six years, has also become well known for his post-football philanthropy.
Alongside raising a family with former Spice Girl and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, David has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005 and in 2024 took on a new role with The King's Foundation, King Charles' charitable organisation.
"I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for the work that gives me so much fulfilment," he said.
"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."
Speaking on Sky News' Royal Report on Sunday, writer and broadcaster Esther Krakue said the long wait for Beckham's knighthood had become something of a running joke.
"David Beckham for a long time almost became a bit of a meme because he and his wife had always done a lot of work with the Royal Family, and yet he never attained this honour," Krakue said.
"Many people joked that he was probably never going to get it, because the Royal Family didn't want to look like they were handing out favours to their friends.
"But after years, really decades of service, he's finally got that honour that I'm sure he's very happy to get."
Beckham previously received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, but nominations for a knighthood were reportedly knocked back in 2011.
Meanwhile, fellow recipient Sadiq Khan's inclusion on the honours list has sparked criticism.
Ms Krakue described the London mayor's knighthood as "controversial", citing an alleged rise in knife crime and soaring council tax rates under his tenure.
"I'm someone who doesn't believe that people who are still in office should receive those kinds of honours, I believe it's inappropriate,' she said.
"…Yes, he (Khan) has been elected three times as London mayor, so in his own right, he is a successful politician in terms of getting re-elected, but since he came into power, knife crime in the capital has gone up 50 per cent and many people feel he has lost control of the streets, despite the fact that many people paying council tax in London has gone up by about 71 per cent since he became mayor.
"So there is this feeling that he is being rewarded for failure, and this is not something that's holding the honour system in high esteem."
Comparing Khan and Beckham, Krakue added: "Two very different people… making more headlines not really for the fact that they've been honoured but for why they've been honoured, which is raising a few eyebrows."
