David Beckham has received his knighthood from King Charles.
The former footballer is now known as “Sir David” after being given the honour at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as his wife, fashion designer Victoria Beckham, looked on.
The 50-year-old has been hailed for his services to sport and charity as part of the King’s birthday honours.
The announcement that the ex-Manchester United and England player was receiving a knighthood was made back in June.
He had already been appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003
Beckham said it was the “proudest moment” of his career and said the King was the inspiration behind the grey suit, designed by his wife, that he wore to receive his knighthood.
Beckham said of the King: “He was quite impressed with my suit. He’s kind of the most elegantly dressed man that I know, so he inspired quite a few of my looks over the years, and he definitely inspired this look.”
Beckham said he looked at old pictures of the King when he was younger for inspiration.
“I’ve been very obviously lucky in my career to have won what I’ve won and done what I’ve done but to receive an honour like this, of a knight, is beyond anything that I ever thought that I would receive,” said Beckham. “This is without doubt my proudest moment.”
He was named last year as an ambassador for the King’s Foundation educational charity, and famously queued for 12 hours with members of the public to see Elizabeth II lying in state.
What perks does Beckham’s knighthood bring?
If made a Knights Bachelor, the knight can be formally addressed as “Sir”, while his wife can be known as “Lady”, something that is not the case if given an MBE, CBE or OBE. This right dates back as far as the Middle Ages.
While Beckham becomes Sir David, his wife Victoria, 51, who has her own OBE, becomes Lady Beckham.
Their four children, however, will not see a change, and none of them will be able to get married in Westminster Abbey, as this honour is only bestowed on the offspring of those who are made knights of the Order of the Bath
One of the biggest benefits for the former footballer will be ‘Brand Beckham’.
He’s the co-owner of two football clubs: Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer (MLS) and Salford City FC in English Football League Two.
David Beckham also retains a stake in his company DB Ventures, having sold the majority stake in 2022, and owns film company Studio 99, which produced his Netflix documentary. In addition, he has a number of endorsement and brand ambassador deals with fashion and sports companies, including Tudor, Hugo Boss, and Adidas.
He has supported a number of charity causes, including serving as a goodwill ambassador for the humanitarian aid organisation UNICEF since 2005. Last year, he was named an ambassador for The King’s Foundation, an educational charity established by the King in 1990.
What are the different types of knighthood?
The Most Noble Order of the Garter
The oldest and most senior order of knighthood in the UK, it is limited to 24 ordinary members who are chosen personally by the sovereign to honour people who have held public office, contributed to national life or have served the sovereign personally.
The order includes the King, senior members of the royal family and these 24 knights, who have included former prime ministers Sir Winston Churchill and Sir John Major.
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
The King is also the sovereign of the Order of the Thistle, and its appointments are entirely his personal gift, but can only be made to Scottish nationals and is limited to 16 ordinary members.
It is second only in precedence in England to the Order of the Garter.
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
This knighthood is awarded to members of the military or the civil service for outstanding service and is made up of three classes of members: Knight or Dame Grand Cross; Knight or Dame Commander, and Companions.
The order’s name comes from the medieval ceremony of bathing, as a sign of purification, that prospective knights would traditionally go through.
Members of the order can choose to get married in Westminster Abbey in London, as can their children.
The only people who can get married at Westminster Abbey are members of the royal family, members of the Order of the Bath or their children, or someone who is a resident of the abbey’s precincts.
Members of the order include General Sir Nicolas Carter, former Chief of the Defence Staff; Dame Sally Davies, former Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser to the government and General Richard Dannatt, former head of the British Army.
Knight Bachelor
The basic honour given to someone made a knight or a dame, but ranks below those inducted into one of the orders of chivalry.
This type of knighthood is usually given for public service, and Beckham has been made a Knight Bachelor.
Beckham was made a knight in the King’s birthday honours list announced in June, but he wasn’t the only famous face.
Other Knights Bachelors in that list included Roger Daltrey, lead singer with The Who, for his services to music and charity, as he is a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman, known for his appearances in the Batman and Harry Potter movies and the TV show Slow Horses, was also honoured for his services to drama.
Yahoo.com
