Former England captain and global humanitarian to be honoured with knighthood for contributions to sport and charity
David Beckham is expected to be knighted in the upcoming King’s Birthday Honours list, marking a major milestone in the celebrated footballer’s career both on and off the pitch. According to reports, Beckham, 50, will be awarded the title of “Sir David Beckham” next week as part of the annual honours conferred by King Charles III. His wife, fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, will gain the courtesy title of “Lady Beckham”.
The long-anticipated honour comes after years of speculation, with Beckham widely considered a strong candidate for knighthood due to his iconic football legacy, international reputation, and decades of charity work. He has previously been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2003 for services to football.
Beckham, who played over 100 matches for England and served as national team captain for six years, has evolved into a prominent figure in global philanthropy. He has spent the past two decades as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, focusing on children’s rights and welfare. In January this year, he was awarded the prestigious Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos for his efforts in promoting global awareness on issues affecting vulnerable children.
Speaking in Davos, Beckham made a powerful call to action, particularly for gender equality. Referring to his daughter Harper, he said: “I want my daughter to have the same opportunities as her three brothers. But around the world, girls are being held back by poverty, violence and discrimination. They need opportunities. They need collective action and they need investment.”
In addition to his humanitarian work, Beckham has continued to play a significant role in promoting British soft power through sport and culture. He was instrumental in London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and continues to be involved in football through ownership and investment ventures, including Salford City FC. In May, it was revealed that he and former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville were part of a nine-person consortium aiming to bring the League Two club into the Premier League.
“I always dream big,” Beckham said in an interview with The Athletic. “So I’m always going to want us to get to the pinnacle of football and be in the Premier League. But there’s a lot of hard work and investment needed before we get there.”
His ties to the royal family have grown stronger in recent years. He is now an ambassador for The King’s Foundation, an organisation that supports educational and environmental initiatives. Beckham’s passion for nature, including his hobby of beekeeping on his family estate in Oxfordshire, has resonated with the Foundation’s goals. He and Victoria were recently seen alongside King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Chelsea Flower Show, and earlier this year attended a diplomatic dinner at Highgrove, the King’s private Gloucestershire residence.
The path to knighthood, however, has not been without obstacles. Beckham’s name was reportedly removed from consideration for several years due to his alleged involvement in the 2013 Ingenious tax avoidance scheme. Although he maintained he was unaware of any wrongdoing, and the scheme’s operators later won an appeal against HMRC in 2021, the controversy delayed his ascent to the honours list. The announcement of Beckham’s knighthood is expected to garner widespread public support. A national icon who transitioned from sporting legend to global humanitarian and cultural ambassador, Beckham’s journey reflects a modern vision of service, one rooted not only in athletic excellence but also in social responsibility and advocacy.
Victoria Beckham, who reinvented herself from pop stardom to becoming a major fashion figure, has also accompanied her husband in various charitable initiatives. Her new title of Lady Beckham will symbolise the couple’s enduring presence in British public life and their contributions to both the nation’s cultural landscape and its global image.
As King Charles prepares to honour distinguished figures in his upcoming birthday list, David Beckham’s knighthood is likely to be one of its most celebrated and iconic moments — a nod to decades of commitment to excellence, public service, and influence far beyond the football field.
