Former England captain Sir David Beckham was awarded a knighthood at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
The 50-year-old football icon received the honor for his contributions to sports and charitable work.
“I couldn’t be prouder,” Beckham expressed. “Everyone knows how patriotic I am; I love my country.”
<p"I've always emphasized the significance of the monarchy to my family."
“I’ve been fortunate to travel the globe, and everywhere I go, people want to discuss our monarchy. It fills me with pride.”
Beckham proudly represented England in 115 matches, serving as captain in 59 of them—making him one of the top three players with the most appearances for the national team.
He celebrated six Premier League titles with Manchester United, where he developed through their academy.
His career also included stints with Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, Paris Saint-Germain, and AC Milan before retiring in 2013.
Currently, he serves as the president and co-owner of MLS team Inter Miami, where he played a role in signing Lionel Messi. He is also a co-owner of Salford City, a team in League Two.
Beyond football, Beckham has made significant contributions to charitable causes, acting as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 2005.
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Last year, Sir David, who identifies as a “huge royalist,” was appointed an ambassador for the King’s Foundation, a charitable organization founded by the King in 1990.
Known for his impeccable fashion sense, Beckham was named the most stylish man of the year by GQ magazine in 1998 and has modeled for prominent brands such as H&M, Armani, and Boss.
Sir David married Victoria in 1999, and the couple has four children: Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper. Others honoured on Tuesday included Nobel Prize-winning author Sir Kazuo Ishiguro and West End star Dame Elaine Paige.
The complete King’s Birthday Honours list:
Knighthood
David Beckham – For services to sport and charity.
Billy Boston – For services to rugby league.
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Virginia Wade – Former three-time major winner, for services to tennis and charity.
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Alistair Brownlee – Olympic gold medalist triathlete, for services to triathlon and charity.
Deta Hedman – Darts trailblazer, for services to darts and charity.
Devon Malcolm – Former England cricketer, for services to cricket and promoting diversity in the sport.
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Rachel Daly – Former England international, for services to association football.
Michael Dunlop – Record holder for wins and podiums at Isle of Man TT, for services to motorcycle racing.
Luke Humphries – World No. 1 darts player, for services to darts.
Luke Littler – Reigning darts world champion, for services to darts.