Former England football captain David Beckham is set to be awarded a knighthood by King Charles III next week in recognition of his contributions to football and charity, according to reports on Friday.
Beckham, 50, is expected to be named in the King’s Birthday Honours List, the BBC and other outlets reported. The honour will see him take the title of “Sir David,” while his wife, Victoria Beckham, will become “Lady Beckham.”
The football icon joins a list of celebrated British sports figures who have received knighthoods, including former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and tennis star Sir Andy Murray.
Beckham earned 115 caps for England and enjoyed a distinguished club career with Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. He currently serves as president and co-owner of Major League Soccer side Inter Miami and co-owns English League Two club Salford City.
Previously, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003, a lower-ranking honour in the UK honours system. Victoria Beckham later received the same title for her contributions to the fashion industry.
Last month, Beckham was named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential figures in philanthropy. He serves as an official ambassador for The King’s Foundation, focusing on youth education and environmental awareness, and has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 2005.
Beckham was previously considered for a knighthood after his role in London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. However, reports indicated his nomination was delayed due to concerns over his involvement in a tax avoidance scheme, from which he was later cleared.
