Windsor: Former England football captain David Beckham on Tuesday received his knighthood from King Charles III at Windsor Castle, calling it his “proudest moment”. The football star, 50, who played 115 times for England as well as for some of the world’s most high-profile clubs including Manchester United and Real Madrid, was knighted for services to sport and charity.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Beckham said it was “quite a moment” for a boy from the east end of London to be “here at Windsor Castle, being honoured by His Majesty the King — the most important and the most respected institution in the world”. Beckham expressed his emotions, stating, “This is without doubt my proudest moment,” to the PA news agency.
Beckham, known for his fashion sense, wore a grey suit designed by his wife Victoria, a pop star-turned-fashion designer. She accompanied him to the ceremony at Windsor, west of London, along with his parents Ted and Sandra. Following the announcement of the honour in June, Beckham has been affectionately known as “Sir David,” while Victoria, a former member of the Spice Girls, became “Lady Beckham.”
During the ceremony, Beckham mentioned that King Charles was “quite impressed with my suit.” He shared that the King’s elegant style had inspired many of his looks over the years. “I looked at old pictures of him when he was quite young in morning suits and I was like, OK, that’s what I want to wear, so I gave it to my wife and she did it,” Beckham noted.
Receiving the knighthood held special significance for Beckham, as he has “always been a huge fan of the monarchy.” Reflecting on his career, he acknowledged the honor as something beyond his expectations, stating, “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 honour like this, of a knight, is beyond anything that I ever thought that I would receive.”
Beckham’s knighthood marks the peak of his journey to become a global icon, transcending football to make significant contributions in the realms of sport, fashion, and business. Although he was previously believed to be on the verge of receiving a knighthood after assisting London in its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, his nomination was delayed due to allegations of involvement in a tax avoidance scheme, from which he was later cleared.