Speculation mounts that 'perfect royal guest' David Beckham will be knighted

‘Sir David Beckham’, anyone? Speculation is rife that the former England captain could be up for a knighthood soon after growing close to King Charles III and the Prince of Wales

Intense speculation is mounting that former England football captain David Beckham will finally be knighted after growing close to the King in recent months.

The King could bestow the honour on the global sport and fashion icon as part of his New Year’s Honours list, in a testament to his charity work across the world. Beckham and his fashion designer wife Victoria were surprise guests at a glittering state banquet on Tuesday night in honour of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher.

Beckham, 49, was described in royal circles as “the perfect guest” for the state occasion, owing to his ambassador role for the 2022 Qatar World Cup when the competition broke ground by being held in the Middle East for the first time.

The ex-player, who was capped 115 times for England as well as captaining the team for six years, has in the past been widely tipped to have a promotion from his current OBE, after being named in the late Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to football in June 2003. But after hanging up his boots playing for some of the world’s most illustrious clubs including manchester-united-fc>Manchester United, AC Milan and Real Madrid.

Beckham hit the headlines a decade later when he was exposed for sending a series of furious emails, in which he branded the Honors Committee which rejected him for a knighthood “unappreciative c***s”. The foul mouth tirade, coupled with allegations of tax avoidance when he played in Spain between 2003-2007, seemed to have torpedoed his chances of being made a Knight. As one of the most recognisable faces on the planet, Brand Beckham was further accused of mounting a campaign to get an honor from the late Queen Elizabeth II, which would give him the title ‘Sir’ and make his wife ‘Lady’ Victoria in the UK.

Honours' lists include awards for people who have made significant achievements in public life and committed themselves to serving and helping Britain. The New Year and birthday honours are awarded by the monarch, following recommendations by the Prime Minister or senior government ministers.

Members of the public can also recommend people for an award, which typically make up about a quarter of all recommendations. Honours' lists include awards for people who have made significant achievements in public life and committed themselves to serving and helping Britain

The furious rants in emails to a business associate - which he later claims was faked - detailed his anger for not being elevated. Beckham also took exception to singer Katherine Jenkins getting an honour, asking: “Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops. F****** joke.”

The Champions League winner was alleged to have insisted he didn't “care about being knighted”, adding: “I expected nothing less. It's a disgrace to be honest and if I was American I would of [sic] got something like this 10 years ago.”

A close friend of Beckham exclusively told The Mirror in 2017: "He is very calm at the moment because he knows the great work that he has done for UNICEF. But he is just saddened that people would question all of that work. Genuinely, he wasn't as vitriolic as that, but you do say some things in private and in the heat of the moment. To be honest, he does feel that he has given so much to his country. And sometimes you say things in private that anyone would say and you don't really mean it.”

However, those close to the global football and fashion icon have given assurances that his previous tax woes have been long rectified, while others point to his constant work in the charity sector, working with UNICEF for nearly 20 years as a Goodwill Ambassador. In recent years, Beckham has enjoyed close links with the royals, attending the weddings of both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex and this summer most notably became an ambassador for the King’s Foundation.

In June, the King turned to brand Beckham to help him rebuild the reputation of his main charitable foundation after a cash-for-honours scandal. Becks was announced in the new role after the two met for tea at the monarch’s Highgrove home in Gloucestershire.

A photo of Charles giving Beckham a personal tour of the grounds sits prominently on the superstar’s website under the philantropy section. Beckham said he was looking forward to exploring a newly discovered shared interest with the monarch in rural skills, nature and the British countryside as well as swapping beekeeping tips.

One source with knowledge of the system said: “It would appear now more than any time previously that David Beckham is in prime position for a Knighthood.”

Beckham has also grown ever close to Prince William, the patron and former president of the Football Association. The Prince of Wales joined forces with Becks in October to celebrate the purchase of two new helicopters for London’s air ambulance service. The duo were at RAF Northolt to mark the end of the three-year Up Against Time appeal that raised £16 million for the H135 vehicles, which operate from their base at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London.

The Prince, 42, and Beckham, 49, greeted each other like old friends, before hopping inside the cockpit. The Prince, patron of the London Air Ambulance charity, had personally asked Beckham to front an Omaze prize draw campaign, which contributed more than £4 million to the fund.

The Cabinet Office was approached for comment. Buckingham Palace said all honours were a matter for the Cabinet Office.