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In a prestigious honors list, former England captain David Beckham, global fashion icon and philanthropist, was knighted for his services to sport and charity, joining The Who’s Roger Daltrey and renowned actor Gary Oldman.
With his knighthood, Beckham, the former England football star who played for top clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid, will now be formally known as Sir David, while his wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, will hold the title Lady Beckham.
Beckham, 50, had long been tipped for a knighthood and previously received a lesser honor, being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003.
Victoria Beckham was also honored with an OBE in recognition of her contributions to the fashion industry.
“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 honor,” Beckham said in a statement to the Press Association.
David Beckham’s efforts in helping London win the 2012 Olympic bid are thought to have brought him close to receiving a knighthood at the time.
However, according to previous reports, Beckham’s nomination for a knighthood was reportedly flagged due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme, but he was later cleared of any wrongdoing.