David Beckham has arrived. He was knighted at Windsor Castle

Former England captain David Beckham was knighted at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. He was knighted by King Charles III. The British monarch thus appreciated his contribution to the development of sports and charity activities.

– I couldn't be more proud today. People know what a patriot I am, I love my country, said Sir Beckham just after the ceremony, as quoted by the BBC.

The former footballer, who describes himself as a “great royalist”, admitted that the British monarchy has always been important to his family. “To be here and receive a knighthood from His Majesty is surreal,” he added.

He was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife Victoria, former star of the Spice Girls and now a fashion designer, who will now be called Lady Beckham.

The footballer made his Premier League debut for Manchester United in 1995 and was part of the team that won the 1999 Champions League final, defeating Bayern Munich. In total, he played for Manchester United in 394 matches and scored 85 goals. He later played for Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

Beckham played 115 matches for the England national team, which gives him third place in the historical ranking, and he was its captain 59 times.

He also won numerous accolades, including six Premier League titles and two FA Cups. In 2013, he announced the end of his sports career.

Already during it, Beckham supported a number of charities, including: since 2005 he has been a Goodwill Ambassador at UNICEF.

In 2024, Beckham was appointed as an ambassador for the King's Foundation, an educational charity founded by Prince Charles, now the King, in 1990.

From London Marta Zabłocka (PAP)

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