Former England football captain David Beckham received his knighthood from King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, calling it his “proudest moment.”
The 50-year-old football legend, who earned 115 caps for England and played for Manchester United and Real Madrid, was honored for his services to sport and charity. Beckham described the ceremony as particularly meaningful for someone from the east end of London to be recognized by “the most important and the most respected institution in the world.”
Speaking to the Press Association (PA) news agency, Beckham said the investiture ceremony represented an honor beyond anything he had imagined during his playing career. He attended the event in a grey suit designed by his wife, fashion designer Victoria Beckham, who accompanied him alongside his parents, Ted and Sandra.
The footballer revealed that King Charles had been “quite impressed with my suit.” Beckham explained he drew inspiration from vintage photographs of the King in morning suits, describing Charles as “the most elegantly dressed man that I know” who had influenced several of his fashion choices over the years.
Since the honor was announced in June, Beckham has been informally known as Sir David, with Victoria gaining the title Lady Beckham. The football icon emphasized his longstanding admiration for the monarchy, making the recognition especially significant.
“I’ve been very obviously lucky in my career to have won what I’ve won and done what I’ve done, but to receive an honor like this, of a knight, is beyond anything that I ever thought that I would receive,” Beckham stated.
The knighthood represents the culmination of Beckham’s transformation from footballer to global figure spanning sport, fashion, and business. While he was previously considered for the honor following his role in helping London secure the bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, his nomination faced delays due to an alleged tax avoidance issue. He was subsequently cleared of those allegations.
