Victoria set to become Lady Beckham as 50-year-old icon’s decade-long dream comes true – after tax scandal and leaked emails calling honours committee ‘unappreciative c***s’
DAVID Beckham is finally set to receive a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours list next week – ending more than a decade of disappointment and controversy that saw him branded “unappreciative c*s” in leaked emails about the honours committee.**
The former England captain, who turned 50 in May, will become Sir David Beckham while his fashion designer wife Victoria will be entitled to use the title Lady Beckham, fulfilling a long-held ambition that has been repeatedly thwarted.
Sky News understands the Manchester United legend will appear on the prestigious list due to be published next week, recognising both his glittering football career and extensive charity work including his role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
The honour comes after years of near-misses, tax scandals, and embarrassing leaked emails that threatened to derail his chances of joining football’s knighted elite alongside Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst and his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Royal Hint at Chelsea
In a touching moment that may have hinted at the impending honour, King Charles was caught on camera at last month’s Chelsea Flower Show asking Beckham if he had “received his 50th birthday present.
The monarch, who has developed a close friendship with the football icon over their shared love of gardening, was heard saying “I’m glad it got to you,” with Beckham responding: “It was incredible, thank you, it was very kind.
Queen Camilla then added the telling detail: “I’m glad you got the roses.
The countryside-loving former footballer, who serves as an ambassador for The King’s Foundation, wore the King’s rose in his lapel during the exchange – a subtle nod to their blossoming friendship.
The Tax Scandal That Nearly Ruined Everything
Beckham’s path to knighthood has been anything but smooth. He was on the verge of receiving the honour in the 2014 New Year’s Honours list when HM Revenue and Customs placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme.
The setback was devastating for the star, who had been tipped for a knighthood ever since playing a key role in securing the London 2012 Olympics for Britain.
It took years and a green light from the taxman before Beckham’s reputation was restored in the eyes of the Honours Committee.
‘Unappreciative C***s’ Email Scandal
In 2017, Beckham’s knighthood hopes suffered another massive blow when hackers leaked private emails revealing his fury at being repeatedly overlooked.
The messages, published by European newspapers, showed him taking aim at the honours committee, calling them “unappreciative c***s” and insisting he didn’t “care about being knighted.”
At the time, a spokesperson for the footballer claimed his emails were “hacked” and “doctored,” but the damage to his carefully cultivated image was significant.
Golden Career Stats
Beckham’s football achievements speak for themselves:
- 115 England caps (third-highest for men’s team)
- Captain on 59 occasions
- Only Englishman to score at three World Cups
- 394 appearances for Manchester United
- 85 goals for the Red Devils
- Six Premier League titles
- Two FA Cups
- 1999 Champions League winner
- Played for Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and PSG
Charity Champion
Beyond football, Beckham’s humanitarian work has strengthened his case:
- UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005
- Launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund
- Ambassador for The King’s Foundation
- Supports education, sustainability and community development
- Promotes causes close to King Charles’s heart
The King’s Garden Buddy
Sources say Beckham’s friendship with King Charles has blossomed through their mutual love of gardening and the countryside.
Charles personally invited him to Highgrove to learn more about The King’s Foundation, which focuses on “creating better communities where people, places and the planet can coexist in harmony.”
The duo have been spotted sharing laughs at various events, with body language expert Darren Stanton noting they were “laughing their heads off, almost in a mischievous way” during their Chelsea Flower Show reunion.
Victoria’s Lady Moment
Fashion designer Victoria Beckham, who received her own OBE for services to the fashion industry in 2017, will be entitled to use the title Lady Beckham in formal settings.
The power couple, who attended their first state banquet together in December, will cement their status as British royalty in all but blood.
Football World Reacts
The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney said: “His football career speaks for itself, a Champions League winner at Man Utd and one of the best players in one of their best-ever teams.
He added: “The one slight surprise is where Beckham had seemed to be on course for a knighthood for so long, but he received a lot of criticism when he worked for the Qatar World Cup hosts.”
From Criticism to Crown
Despite the Qatar controversy and past scandals, Beckham’s ability to transcend sport has ultimately won over the establishment.
I remember hearing a story about Beckham’s role there – it was a highly politicised World Cup, Iran and USA were in the same group and delegates in the same room wouldn’t talk to each other, but then Beckham walks in and he causes it to light up,” Delaney revealed.
Inter Miami Success
Since retiring, Beckham has turned his co-owned US team Inter Miami into a success story, bringing global superstar Lionel Messi to Major League Soccer and elevating the sport’s profile in America.
The Long Wait
Politicians and fellow sports figures have campaigned for years for the man nicknamed “Golden Balls” to receive a knighthood.
He received his OBE in 2003 on the recommendation of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, with the honour presented by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
According to reports, Beckham “narrowly missed out” on receiving a knighthood in 2024, with the honour instead going to former England manager Gareth Southgate.
Birthday Boy Makes Good
The timing couldn’t be more perfect – Beckham celebrated his 50th birthday in May, marking half a century of life with the ultimate establishment seal of approval.
Honours letters are typically sent weeks in advance, suggesting Beckham may have already received notification when the King made his cryptic “birthday present” comment at Chelsea.
Family Pride
The Beckhams’ four children – Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and Harper Seven, 13 – will now be able to call their parents Sir and Lady.
What Happens Next
The official King’s Birthday Honours list will be published next week, with Buckingham Palace maintaining its traditional silence until the formal announcement.
Recipients are notified weeks in advance but sworn to secrecy until the big day.
The Bottom Line
After more than a decade of disappointment, tax scandals, and leaked emails that would have finished lesser mortals, David Beckham’s persistence has finally paid off.
From the boy who grew up dreaming of playing for Manchester United to becoming a global icon who transcends sport, fashion and celebrity, Beckham’s journey to knighthood reflects modern Britain itself – sometimes messy, often controversial, but ultimately triumphant.
As one insider put it: “It’s been a long time coming, but Sir David Beckham has a nice ring to it. And let’s be honest – Lady Victoria was always destined for a title.”
The lad from Leytonstone who bent it like no one else is about to join the ranks of British sporting royalty. Some might say it’s about bloody time.
