It was a long time coming, but it’s finally official. David Beckham has been formally knighted by the King.
The 50-year-old was bestowed the prestigious honor — the highest recognition in the U.K., reserved only for top stars and influential figures — during a ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. Joined by wife Victoria of Spice Girls fame, Beckham was given a knighthood for his services to soccer and British society and will now be known as Sir David Beckham in his native Britain.
“I couldn’t be prouder,” he told press after the event. “People know how patriotic I am — I love my country. I’ve always said how important the monarchy is to my family. I’m lucky enough to have traveled around the world and all people want to talk to me about is our monarchy. It makes me proud.”
Victoria Beckham, a former music star-turned-fashion designer, made the suit that her husband wore at the castle.
Beckham is best known to Brits as the former captain of England’s national soccer team and Manchester United player. He later joined Real Madrid and then MLS team L.A. Galaxy, before forging a path in the business side of soccer by becoming the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, as well as the co-owner of Salford City.
The star made headlines in 2023 for his four-part docuseries on Netflix, Beckham, which soared to the top of the TV charts around the globe. Such was the success of the show that Victoria was given her own series on the streaming platform, the three-part Victoria Beckham, which premiered earlier this year. Both shows were made by Beckham’s production outfit Studio 99, launched in 2019.
He is a vocal supporter of the monarchy, famously queuing over 12 hours to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in stage following her death in 2022. “It’s special to be here, to celebrate and to hear the different stories that people have,” he said at the time.
Beckham’s philanthropy — generally a prerequisite for getting an honor from the royals — includes work with Unicef as well as the King’s Foundation, a charity working to educate young people about the importance of nature, of which Beckham became an ambassador in 2024.
Among other high-profile Brits to have been knighted or given a damehood over the years are Paul McCartney, Julie Andrews, Elton John, Emma Thompson, Judi Dench, Lewis Hamilton, Helen Mirren, Anna Wintour, Mick Jagger, Michael Caine and Anthony Hopkins.
