David Beckham will finally be knighted next week as part of the King’s birthday celebrations after being in line for the honour for more than a decade – and we want to hear your thoughts
David Beckham will finally be awarded with a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours list next week after years of public calls – and we want to hear your thoughts on the news. The Manchester United icon will officially become a Sir and join a host of other football legends who have been honoured by the Royal Family, reports The Sun.
The former England star, who recently turned 50, serves as an ambassador for The King’s Foundation and has continued to make notable donations to charity. He has developed a friendship with the King, who hinted at last month’s Chelsea Flower Show that David’s honour was finally on its way.
Charles asked him: “You got it, didn’t you?” Before Beckham replied: “It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.” His wife Victoria will also be known as Lady Beckham. It comes after David was given an OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth for services to football in 2003.
Becks, who played 115 times for England, was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 following his role in securing the London 2012 Olympics – but was blocked by the Honours Committee after he became embroiled in a tax avoidance scheme, which he was cleared of four years ago. The now Inter Miami co-owner had been kept waiting in his bid to earn a knighthood, with Beckham narrowly missing out in the New Year Honours List published in December last year, the Sun reports.
In 2017, shocking emails from Beckham were leaked, revealing his fury at the New Years honours committee and possibly setting him back in his pursuit of a knighthood. The football star is said to have branded the committee “unappreciative c***s” and added that he “didn’t care about being knighted” – though the ex-midfielder has claimed some of the leaked emails had been doctored.
The leaked emails claim the former footballer said: “I expected nothing less. It’s a disgrace to be honest and if I was American I would of got something like this 10 years ago.” He is also reported to have slammed opera star Katherine Jenkins after she was given an OBE. “Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops. F***ing joke.”
A close friend of Beckham exclusively told The Mirror in 2017: “To be honest, he does feel that he has given so much to his country. And sometimes you say things in private that anyone would say and you don’t really mean it. While he was frustrated in those emails, he was over it the moment he sent them. Getting the knighthood is not what his work is about. He doesn’t care if he gets a knighthood or not.”
Beckham was appointed as an ambassador to HM’s charity the King’s Foundation, which was seen as an encouraging sign earlier last year. He said at the time: “I’m excited to be working with The King’s Foundation and to have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity’s work.
“I’ve always been keen to help young people to expand their horizons and I’m particularly looking forward to supporting the Foundation’s education programmes and its efforts to ensure young people have greater access to nature.”
Following the announcement that Beckham will be awarded with a knighthood next week, we want to know if you think the football legend deserves the honour. Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
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