David Beckham has been knighted in the King’s Birthday Honours and was quick to pay tribute to his family – even as his son Brooklyn remains estranged from him after their feud
Emotional former England football captain David Beckham has described it as a “humbling honour” to be knighted in the King’s Birthday Honours.
The sporting hero, who received an OBE in 2003, expressed his deep gratitude in a heartfelt statement to the Mirror: “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.
“To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true. Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation.”
Becks continued: “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. 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.”
The star’s mention of his family comes at a tender time. His son Brooklyn hasn’t been on speaking terms with either Becks or his wife Victoria recently.
While many will rush to send congratulations to Sir David, whether Brooklyn will reach out remains in question; a poignant moment amid the celebration for the man who lovingly named his son ‘Buster’.
David Beckham’s path to knighthood had been put on hold in 2014 due to concerns raised by HM Revenue and Customs regarding his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme. However, it was reported in 2021 that his finances had been cleared, paving the way for him to receive the honour, reports the Mirror.
The day before being knighted, Beckham was seen chatting with the King at a ceremony for the monarch’s foundation at St James’s Palace, where he serves as an ambassador.
A long-time supporter of the Royal family, Beckham demonstrated his devotion by queuing for 12 hours to pay his respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II as she lay in state in September 2022, describing the experience as “special to be here”. His knighthood recognises his contributions to both sport and charity, including his work with Unicef and Malaria No More, a charity dedicated to eradicating the disease.
Beckham, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, had previously been awarded an OBE by the Queen in 2003 for his services to football. Reflecting on the experience in 2022, he said: “To receive my OBE, I took my grandparents with me – who were the ones that really brought me up to be a huge royalist and a fan of the Royal Family – and obviously I had my wife there as well.
“To step up, to get my honour – but then also Her Majesty, to ask questions, to talk. I was so lucky that I was able to have a few moments like that in my life, to be around Her Majesty.
“Because we can all see with the love that has been shown how special she is and how special she was and the legacy that she leaves behind. It’s a sad day, but it’s a day for us to remember the incredible legacy that she’s left.
“Every time that we stood there when we wore those Three Lion shirts and I had my armband and we sang God Save The Queen, that was something that meant so much to us.
“Every time that we did it, it was something special.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
