David Beckham has been awarded a knighthood by King Charles III, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to sport, philanthropy, and British culture.
The announcement was made as part of the monarch's birthday honours list released on Friday.
The honour marks the culmination of a decades-long journey for the 50-year-old former football star, who rose from modest beginnings in East London to become a global icon at the intersection of sport, fashion, and business.
Beckham received the title of "Sir David" during a ceremony at St. James's Palace on June 12, where he shook hands with the King at the 35th anniversary celebration of The King's Foundation.
The recognition is more than symbolic. "It reinforces his image as a respectable, committed, and, first and foremost, British man," said Marie Agnes Parmentier, a professor of marketing at the University of Montreal, who has written extensively about Beckham's public image.
