David Beckham, the celebrated former England football captain, is reportedly set to receive a knighthood in King Charles' upcoming Birthday Honours list. This significant recognition would elevate him to Sir David Beckham, and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, would become Lady Beckham. Beckham, who turned 50 in May, was previously appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003 on the recommendation of then Prime Minister Tony Blair, for his services to football.

His illustrious football career is marked by 115 appearances for England, a period during which he captained the national team for more than five years. He is famously remembered for his spectacular 2001 free-kick against Greece, which propelled the Three Lions to the 2002 World Cup. Notably, Beckham is the only Englishman to have scored in three different World Cup tournaments. His club career was equally distinguished, featuring successful stints with Manchester United, where he was part of the 1998-99 treble-winning squad (Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League), Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, Paris Saint-Germain, and AC Milan, before his retirement in 2013.

Beyond his on-field achievements, Beckham has made substantial contributions to charitable causes and British society. He has served as a UNICEF ambassador since 2005, dedicated to supporting vulnerable children globally. In 2015, his commitment was further solidified with the launch of the David Beckham UNICEF Fund. In 2024, he also became an ambassador for The King's Foundation, an organization focused on providing education related to the environment and sustainability. Beckham also played a significant role in the successful bid for London to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

Receiving a knighthood has been a long-held ambition for Beckham. He was reportedly close to receiving the honour in 2011 and again in 2014, following his contributions to the London Olympics. However, his nomination was reportedly blocked or delayed by an issue with his taxes, as HM Revenue and Customs placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme. Rumours of the impending knighthood, as first reported by The Sun, escalated significantly in December of last year when he and Victoria Beckham (who received an OBE in 2017 for her services to the fashion industry) attended a state banquet for the first time. His recent appointment as an ambassador to The King's Foundation and a recent meeting with King Charles at the Chelsea Flower Show further fueled speculation. During this meeting, the monarch reportedly asked Beckham, "You got it, didn't you?", to which Beckham responded, "It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind." The Queen was then heard telling him: "I'm glad you got the roses." In 2017, Beckham faced controversy when leaked emails, which a spokesperson claimed were "hacked" and "doctored," appeared to show him criticising the honours system and committee. Despite these past challenges, it appears he is now set to receive this prestigious recognition for his contributions to football, charity, and British society.