AP PHOTOS: David Beckham to be awarded a knighthood by King Charles
David Beckham attends a conversation during the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
London, ENGLAND (AP) — David Beckham, the former England soccer captain who has been an ambassador for the U.N. children’s fund for two decades, is to receive a knighthood in next week’s honors list from King Charles III, according to U.K. media reports Friday.
Without citing sources, the BBC said Beckham is set to receive further recognition both for his soccer career, and his contributions to British society.
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Manchester United’s and England international David Beckham fires over a cross against Tottenham Hotspur during their English Premier League soccer match at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane ground in London, April 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
Manchester United’s and England international David Beckham fires over a cross against Tottenham Hotspur during their English Premier League soccer match at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane ground in London, April 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham gives the thumbs up before a Leagues Cup soccer match Adam Grinwis, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham gives the thumbs up before a Leagues Cup soccer match Adam Grinwis, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Former soccer star David Beckham attends the Boss Spring Summer 2025 fashion show, that was presented in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Former soccer star David Beckham attends the Boss Spring Summer 2025 fashion show, that was presented in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
British soccer star David Beckham smiles prior to the start of a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Udinese at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/ Antonio Calanni, File)
British soccer star David Beckham smiles prior to the start of a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Udinese at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/ Antonio Calanni, File)
Former English national soccer team captain David Beckham speaks during a press conference to mark his 10 years as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and to launch ‘7' a new fund for children in danger across the globe in London, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
Former English national soccer team captain David Beckham speaks during a press conference to mark his 10 years as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and to launch ‘7' a new fund for children in danger across the globe in London, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
Former LA Galaxy MLS soccer midfielder David Beckham looks at a statue of himself at Legends Plaza in front of Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)
Former LA Galaxy MLS soccer midfielder David Beckham looks at a statue of himself at Legends Plaza in front of Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)
King Charles III smiles as he attends the inaugural King’s Foundation charity awards at St James’s Palace in London, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, with British pop icon Rod Stewart, left, and former footballer David Beckham in the background. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth,Pool, File)
King Charles III smiles as he attends the inaugural King’s Foundation charity awards at St James’s Palace in London, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, with British pop icon Rod Stewart, left, and former footballer David Beckham in the background. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth,Pool, File)
England soccer captain David Beckham kisses his wife, Victoria, as he holds the OBE, Order of the British Empire, he received Thursday Nov. 27, 2003, from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II at London’s Buckingham Palace. (Fiona Hanson, Pool Photo via AP, File)
England soccer captain David Beckham kisses his wife, Victoria, as he holds the OBE, Order of the British Empire, he received Thursday Nov. 27, 2003, from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II at London’s Buckingham Palace. (Fiona Hanson, Pool Photo via AP, File)
David Beckham speaks to the media after leaving Westminster Palace where he paid respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, at Westminster Hall, London, England, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
David Beckham speaks to the media after leaving Westminster Palace where he paid respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, at Westminster Hall, London, England, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham, center, is sprayed with champagne as they celebrate in the dressing room after defeating the Houston Dynamo 3-1 in the MLS Cup championship soccer game in Carson, Calif., Dec. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham, center, is sprayed with champagne as they celebrate in the dressing room after defeating the Houston Dynamo 3-1 in the MLS Cup championship soccer game in Carson, Calif., Dec. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
FILE _ lnInternational superstar Lionel Messi, center left, holds his new Inter Miami team jersey as he poses with team co-owners Jorge Mas, left, Jose Mas, second right, and David Beckham, right, at an event to present him to fans one day after his signing, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
FILE _ lnInternational superstar Lionel Messi, center left, holds his new Inter Miami team jersey as he poses with team co-owners Jorge Mas, left, Jose Mas, second right, and David Beckham, right, at an event to present him to fans one day after his signing, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
England’s captain David Beckham, left, is congratulated by teammate Emile Heskey after scoring their second goal against Greece during their 2002 World Cup qualifying match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Saturday Oct. 6, 2001. (AP Photo/Adam Butler, File)
England’s captain David Beckham, left, is congratulated by teammate Emile Heskey after scoring their second goal against Greece during their 2002 World Cup qualifying match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Saturday Oct. 6, 2001. (AP Photo/Adam Butler, File)
Greek President Karolos Papoulias, right, Princess Anne of Britain, second right, Former England football captain David Beckham, fifth right, and London Mayor Boris Johnson, sixth right, attend an Olympic Flame handover ceremony at the Panathenean stadium in Athens, on Thursday, May 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
Greek President Karolos Papoulias, right, Princess Anne of Britain, second right, Former England football captain David Beckham, fifth right, and London Mayor Boris Johnson, sixth right, attend an Olympic Flame handover ceremony at the Panathenean stadium in Athens, on Thursday, May 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
Former soccer player David Beckham adjusts a “King’s Rose” by David Austin Roses, as he waits to meet Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, Britain, May 19, 2025. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)
Former soccer player David Beckham adjusts a “King’s Rose” by David Austin Roses, as he waits to meet Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, Britain, May 19, 2025. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain’s King Charles III, left speaks to former footballer David Beckham as they attend the inaugural King’s Foundation charity awards at St James’s Palace in London, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, File)
Britain’s King Charles III, left speaks to former footballer David Beckham as they attend the inaugural King’s Foundation charity awards at St James’s Palace in London, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, File)
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, left, sits with his wife Victoria before a Leagues Cup soccer match between Inter Miami and Atlanta United, Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, left, sits with his wife Victoria before a Leagues Cup soccer match between Inter Miami and Atlanta United, Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Britain’s King Charles III speaks with David Beckham and Victoria Beckham during a dinner at Highgrove House, Tetbury, England, Friday Feb. 7, 2025. (Finnbarr Webster/Pool via AP, File)
Britain’s King Charles III speaks with David Beckham and Victoria Beckham during a dinner at Highgrove House, Tetbury, England, Friday Feb. 7, 2025. (Finnbarr Webster/Pool via AP, File)
Former English national soccer team captain David Beckham is silhouetted as he arrives to speak at a press conference to mark his 10 years as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and to launch ‘7', a new fund for children in danger across the globe, in London, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
Former English national soccer team captain David Beckham is silhouetted as he arrives to speak at a press conference to mark his 10 years as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and to launch ‘7', a new fund for children in danger across the globe, in London, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.