David Beckham will be knighted on Tuesday. The Manchester United and England legend will be recognised for services to sport and to charity and received the news this summer.
Beckham is one of English football’s most recognisable figures and was made an OBE in 2003. Having been reportedly considered for a knighthood since 2011 he will finally become Sir David after he was announced as a recipient in King Charles’ Birthday Honours list earlier this June.
The 50-year-old played a vital role in securing the London 2012 Olympics, has been a Unicef ambassador for two decades and has been working with King Charles and The King’s Foundation since 2024.
As part of his Windsor Castle ceremony, protocol will see Beckham kneel on his right knee whilst the King or a different member of the Royal Family touches his right shoulder and then his left with a bar sword blade.
Speaking in June when Beckham was announced as a recipient, he told PA: “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.
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“To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and it was literally a boyhood dream come true.
“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,” he added.
“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.”
He also took to Instagram after he informed his mother of the honour and captioned a picture: “Mum cried when she arrived, cried during lunch and cried when I was leaving. It was a special moment for us all.”
After Beckham’s ceremony he will choose to go by his new official title of Sir David Beckham. Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was knighted in 1999 and he admitted that he was unsure about adopting the new title but was advised to by his family.
“I put it to the family,” Ferguson told United’s official magazine in 2000. “Cathy was a bit, ‘Oh, I don’t know, what would your father think?’ And my son said, ‘Mum, it’s nothing to do with Dad’s parents.
“They’re gone. They’d be proud of him — you can’t refuse this, it’s recognition of what he’s done.’ We had a discussion and decided it was right.”
Beckham’s wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, will also accept a new title after Tuesday’s ceremony and will now be referred to as ‘Lady Beckham.’ The footballing icon could have been attending such a ceremony much sooner were it not for some emails being leaked in 2017 that allegedly criticised the honours system and committee.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
