London: When it came time to receive his knighthood, soccer great David Beckham knew what to do. He bent his knee like, well, Beckham.
King Charles III tapped his shoulders with the blade of a sword, and “Becks” was transformed to Sir David Beckham.
Sir David Beckham is made a Knight Bachelor by King Charles III during an Investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.Credit: AP
“This is without doubt my proudest moment,” Beckham said after Tuesday’s ceremony at Windsor Castle. “I’ve been very obviously lucky in my career to have won what I’ve won and done what I’ve done, but to receive an honour like this, of a knight, is beyond anything that I ever thought that I would receive.”
The distinction marks the pinnacle of Beckham’s effort to rehabilitate his image following events that at times alienated him from fans during a long and distinguished career. He also has had a very public persona as a fashion model, husband to Victoria “Posh” Beckham of the Spice Girls and Bend it Like Beckham movie muse.
The 50-year-old was knighted for his services to sport and charity, having partnered with UNICEF, the UN’s children’s fund, for two decades and campaigned with a charity working to eradicate malaria. He also played a pivotal role in London being awarded the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, author of The Remains of the Day, who was previously knighted, was recognised in Tuesday’s ceremony as a Companion of Honour for literature. Renowned musicals singer and actor Elaine Paige was given a damehood, the female equivalent of a knighthood.
Sir David Beckham, with his wife Lady Victoria, after he was made a Knight Bachelor.Credit: AP
Beckham is the only English soccer player to score at three different World Cups, and his career included the triple-winning campaign of 1999, when Manchester United won the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League.
With 115 appearances for the England national team, Beckham is third on the all-time list. He also captained the side on 59 occasions.
