King Charles III knighted former England football captain David Beckham at Windsor Castle on Tuesday honouring him for his services to sport and charity. Beckham, 50, called the ceremony his “proudest moment”.
The former midfielder, earned 115 caps for England and played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain. According to him the moment felt surreal. “It’s quite something for a boy from the East End of London to be here at Windsor Castle, being honoured by His Majesty the King,” he told the PA news agency. “This is without doubt my proudest moment.”
Beckham arrived at Windsor accompanied by his wife, Victoria Beckham, and his parents, Ted and Sandra. Victoria, a former Spice Girl turned fashion designer, created his bespoke grey suit for the occasion and now holds the title Lady Beckham.
During the ceremony, King Charles complimented Beckham’s outfit. “He’s the most elegantly dressed man I know,” Beckham said. “He inspired quite a few of my looks over the years. I looked at photos of him when he was younger in morning suits and thought, ‘That’s what I want to wear,’ so I asked my wife to make it.”
“I’ve always been a huge fan of the Royal Family,” he said. “To be knighted is beyond anything I ever imagined.”
The award crowns Beckham’s transformation from footballer to global icon, combining sport, fashion and philanthropy. After years of speculation about when the honour would come, his investiture confirms his status as one of Britain’s most influential and recognisable public figures.
