David Beckham has finally been awarded a knighthood after a decade-long effort marked by difficulties, including one notable outburst. Few people have worked harder or are more deserving of this recognition.
His ability to overcome three major personal setbacks, which will be discussed later, is a testament to his character and extraordinary dedication.
According to a friend, this knighthood is the highest honor for David. As a true royal supporter, it`s more significant to him than any sporting achievement, fame, or wealth. The friend emphasized David`s exceptional determination and work ethic, noting that he overcame difficulties to prove doubters wrong. His family and friends are very proud, and David is extremely happy, especially that his mother Sandra will witness this moment, calling it a massive event for the family.
Millions of fans feel this knighthood was long overdue. Social media quickly filled with congratulatory messages after the news broke. It`s hard to argue against David Beckham receiving this honor, unless one is cynical or anti-monarchy.
As a former England captain, known for iconic moments like the free kick against Greece in 2001 that secured World Cup qualification, his playing career was legendary. However, Beckham`s impact off the pitch has been revolutionary. He transformed how players see themselves, effectively becoming a global brand. This commercial savvy meant he could have stopped working by age 35.
Before him, retirement often brought identity crises for players. Now, inspired by Beckham`s model, younger stars secure their financial futures through marketing rights, making him a true pioneer.
Interestingly, while his wife Victoria is a renowned fashion designer, David himself influenced 21st-century style, particularly popularizing the tattoo sleeve, starting with a dedication to his son Brooklyn in 1999.
Sadly, his eldest son Brooklyn, now 26 and estranged from his father for seven months, reportedly learned about the knighthood from friends who saw the news in The Sun.
This lack of direct communication with Brooklyn might be due to protocol. Recipients of knighthoods are formally requested to maintain confidentiality until the official announcement. David is well aware that it`s considered highly improper to publicly disclose the honor beforehand.
However, yesterday David eagerly shared news about the King`s Birthday Honours from this newspaper on Instagram. A friend commented that despite recent rumors, David won`t fully believe it until the investiture ceremony. While he informed his closest family, there will be no formal celebrations until after the event. The friend stressed that David understands proper behavior and would never boast about the honor.
Communication with Brooklyn is still absent, and the friend felt it would have been awkward for David to initiate contact solely to share the news. It`s now Brooklyn`s decision if he wants to reconcile and offer congratulations. This situation is regrettable for David, as family is paramount to him, and he would dearly wish his whole family to be present at the investiture ceremony, though this seems improbable currently. For now, David is concentrating on the positive aspects and celebrating this significant accomplishment.
His parents, Sandra and Ted, must undoubtedly be immensely proud. The entire Beckham family has deep affection for the monarchy, evidenced by David`s dedication in queuing for 12 hours in 2022 to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Over the past year, he has also formed a meaningful bond with King Charles, a connection the young David from Chingford could likely never have envisioned. The King even sent David a special birthday gift for his 50th via courier. While the gift`s nature remains private, shared only with close friends, it`s described as “Something personal to Charles and David, something special.”
In exchange, David regularly provides the King with honey from his own production. Meanwhile, his friendship with Prince William is also thriving. They communicate via text, often discussing football, especially since William supports Aston Villa and is Patron of the FA.
Prince William has also acknowledged Beckham`s help in dealing with fame and constant public attention. Despite his significant successes, Beckham`s journey towards this highly desired knighthood faced considerable obstacles.
Setbacks on the Path to Knighthood
His achievements in sport and charity (serving as a dedicated Unicef ambassador for two decades and featuring on the cover of Time for his philanthropic work) arguably warranted recognition much earlier. However, he encountered several public issues. A notable one was the 2017 leak of private emails where he used strong language to criticize the Honours Committee, calling them “unappreciative c***s” – a moment he found embarrassing and certainly not polite.
To his credit, David refused a £1 million ransom demand from Russian hackers to prevent the emails from being published. While the content caused initial controversy, his genuine passion and clear frustration also revealed a more relatable, human side. For many, including the author, who had doubts about the Honours Committee`s decisions, this incident paradoxically made Beckham more likable.
Beckham was also notably involved in the Ingenious tax avoidance scheme, alongside other public figures. Although HMRC successfully challenged this film financing scheme, resulting in large backdated tax bills for participants, David was cleared by tax authorities in 2021 after demonstrating the legitimacy of his financial dealings. This clearance removed a significant barrier to receiving a knighthood.
Recently, he and his wife, the former Spice Girl, appeared on The Sunday Times Rich List with a combined fortune of £500 million. A controversial £100 million deal in 2022 to promote the World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal, drew criticism, particularly given his past support for the LGBTQ+ community (including appearing on the cover of Attitude magazine). However, the event ultimately saw Qatar becoming more open and welcoming to international visitors, which some saw as a form of vindication for Beckham`s involvement.
Beyond the Pitch
His popular Netflix documentary from 2023 proved significant. It offered an unflinching look at his life, including not only his philanthropic work but also difficult moments, like the infamous red card against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, which resulted in widespread public anger and effigies being burned.
The documentary highlighted his journey by including Diego Simeone, the player involved in the 1998 incident, illustrating how they have since become good friends.
A friend described David`s life as remarkable, emphasizing that despite everything, he has stayed a genuinely kind, patient, and honorable person. They noted his consistent politeness when approached by fans and his commitment to using his influence positively, often doing charitable work without seeking publicity.
The friend concluded that it`s rare to hear negative comments about him and that the knighthood, long awaited, represents the fulfillment of his lifelong aspiration.
Arise, Sir David.
Marcus Bellamy