Former England football captain David Beckham has officially been knighted at Windsor Castle today, November 4, joining a distinguished list of honorees recognized for their outstanding contributions to British society.
The 50-year-old football legend was honored for his services to sport and charity, an accolade he described earlier this year as an “immense source of pride” after being named in the King’s Birthday Honours.
David Beckham, who made his Premier League debut for Manchester United in 1995, became a global sports icon as part of the historic team that won the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Over his illustrious career, he scored 85 goals and won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and numerous international honors before retiring in 2013.
Off the field, Beckham has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005 and was appointed an ambassador for the King’s Foundation in 2023, reflecting his deep commitment to philanthropy and education.
In addition to his athletic and charitable achievements, David Beckham has been a style icon, working with global fashion brands such as Armani and H&M, and was named GQ’s Most Stylish Man of the Year in 1998. He and his wife, Victoria Beckham, have been married since 1999 and share four children: Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper.
Today’s honors ceremony also recognized Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, who was appointed a Companion of Honour for his literary achievements, and West End legend Elaine Paige, who received a damehood for her contributions to music and charity.
