King’s Birthday Honours: Luke Littler and David Beckham among 17 sports people recognised

Former England football captain David Beckham has been awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours, with stars from darts, tennis, rugby league, cricket and a number of other sports all recognised

David Beckham has been awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours, with teenage darts sensation Luke Littler being made an MBE. Former Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade is also recognised for her services to tennis.

Former England captain Beckham, a winner of league titles in England, Spain, France and USA during a stellar club career, and of 115 international caps, has been awarded the honour for services to sport and to charity. Beckham, who also won the Champions League as part of Manchester United’s treble-winning team in 1999, has since become a founder and co-owner of American team Inter Miami in recent years and is also co-owner of League Two side Salford City.

He has worked as an ambassador for the worldwide charity UNICEF since 2005 and since last year has been an ambassador for the King’s Foundation.

Beckham said: “Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true.

“Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation.

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“I’m so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I’m grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I’m immensely proud and it’s such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.”

Littler, who earlier this year became the youngest ever world darts champion at the age of 17 years and 347 days, has been made an MBE. Luke Humphries, who beat Littler in the 2024 PDC World Championship final, has also been made an MBE while Deta Hedman, who has won world-ranked darts titles in each of the last five decades and became the first black woman to play at the PDC World Championship in 2020, has become an OBE.

Other sports stars to be recognised include 1977 Wimbledon champion Wade, who has been made a CBE, while two-time Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee has become an OBE.

Rachel Daly, one of the stars of the England women’s football team which won the European Championship on home soil in 2022, has been made an MBE.

The 33-year-old, who plays for Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League but retired from international football last year, said: “I am greatly honoured to receive an MBE. This award is not just for me, but for everyone who has supported me and worked alongside me. It’s a very proud moment for me and my family.”

Frank Rothwell, the owner of Oldham who secured their return to the EFL earlier this month, has become an OBE for services to dementia research.

In cricket, former England pace bowler Devon Malcolm has been made an OBE while Steven Davies, who in 2011 became the first international cricketer to come out as gay, has been made an MBE.

Former Gloucestershire bowler David Lawrence, who took 625 wickets for the county, has also been made an MBE. The 61-year-old, affectionately nicknamed ‘Syd’, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year.

Lawrence said: “It is an incredibly proud moment to have been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours. It is not something I ever thought would sit after my name, but I am absolutely delighted that it will do so for however long I am here and will be a part of my legacy when I am gone.

“As a proud Gloucester man who achieved his dream to play for England on the cricket field, it means a great deal to me and to my family who have supported me with all their love during some difficult times.

“I have always put my heart and soul into any challenge I have faced and that is how I have approached things since my diagnosis with motor neurone disease. With awareness and funds for research we can make a positive difference for those who will need it in the future.”

Monica Vaughan, a 10-time Paralympic swimming gold medallist, becomes an OBE while Andy Lapthorne, a 17-time grand slam champion in wheelchair tennis, has been made an MBE.

Two-weight boxing world champion Natasha Jonas becomes an MBE, as does motorcycle rider Michael Dunlop, golfer Trish Johnson and BBC gymnastics commentator Christine Still.