After 22 years, he finally became "Sir Beckham."

Written by Han Bing. On November 4th, after waiting for 22 years, 50-year-old Beckham fulfilled his dream of knighthood — King Charles III presented him with the Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle, enabling him to use the title "Sir" before his name. Consequently, his wife Victoria also gained the title "Lady." This globally influential modern British celebrity can now be officially called Sir David Beckham.

Receiving a knighthood was Beckham’s childhood dream. As a child, he often attended cavalry guard parades with his grandparents. After being awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003, he continuously pursued knighthood. In 2005, Beckham became a UNICEF ambassador, publicly showcasing his friendship with Princes William and Harry. He also served as an ambassador for London’s Olympic bid and was nominated for honors in 2011.

However, the relationship between the royal family and Beckham’s couple was delicate, causing delays. At Beckham’s 1999 wedding, Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband, was displeased seeing Victoria seated on a golden throne. Later at a celebration, he refused to sit on the same chair as the Queen and joked, “Don’t we look like the Beckhams?” The 2024 biography "The Beckham Family" also mentions Prince Charles’s first impression of the couple, questioning, “Why do these people never wear socks?” expressing dissatisfaction with their attire’s formality.

In 2013, a film financing scheme invested by Beckham was accused of evading £18 million in taxes, leading to the withdrawal of his honors nomination. In 2017, German media leaked emails where Beckham insulted members of the honors committee, questioning others’ qualifications for awards: “Why? Singing at rugby matches or entertaining troops?” targeting opera singer Katherine Jenkins’s OBE. He also showed a sense of superiority about deserving knighthood earlier and frustration over not receiving it: “It’s a disgrace. If I were American, I’d have had this honor 10 years ago.”

The tax evasion and email scandals forced Beckham to spend eight years repairing his image. Although his family business mainly focuses on North America, he chose to live in a countryside villa in the Cotswolds, UK, to maintain a down-to-earth image. In 2018, Beckham took the initiative to lead charity fundraising for Prince William’s wedding to mend relations with the royal family. When Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022, Beckham did not use the VIP entrance but queued with the public for 13 hours at Westminster Abbey to pay respects, winning royal favor.

In 2021, Beckham cleared tax evasion suspicions and invested £50 million in children’s education projects. In 2023, he brought a jar of his homemade honey to a fashion event, which King Charles, who shares the same hobby, tasted and greatly appreciated. In 2024, Beckham became an ambassador for the King’s Foundation. In December, the Beckham couple attended a state banquet celebrating the Emir of Qatar’s official visit, invited by King Charles. In June this year, the UK announced honors lists with Beckham’s name prominently included. It is said King Charles personally revised the list, moving Beckham from the candidate pool to a priority position.

Beckham is the 14th football figure in the UK to receive a knighthood. The previous 13 include four former England managers: Winterbottom, Ramsey, Bobby Robson, and Gareth Southgate, who was knighted late last year. Also included are former Manchester United managers Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson, as well as the first Ballon d’Or winners Matthews, Finney, Hurst, Bobby Charlton, Dalglish, and Bryan Robson.

The British media views this honor as a “win-win” for the royal family and the Beckham clan: following Prince Harry and Meghan’s departure and Prince Andrew’s scandal, the monarchy urgently needs Beckham’s global appeal to rebuild a relatable image. Meanwhile, the Beckham family requires the knighthood to maintain worldwide influence and commercial value. Beckham’s choice to wear the first men’s suit from his wife’s own brand at the ceremony was undoubtedly the best promotion for the label.

However, Beckham hoped the ceremony would also help repair his relationship with his eldest son Brooklyn. Yet Brooklyn and his wife were the only family members absent from the event. The 26-year-old Brooklyn has been busy promoting his chili sauce brand, Cloud23. He missed his father’s 50th birthday party in May and skipped his mother Victoria’s fashion show in Paris and Netflix documentary premieres in August and November. Although Beckham waited 22 years for the knighthood, achieving both fame and family harmony will require more time.