David Beckham's dream to be fulfilled today as Man Utd icon gets greatest British honour

David Beckham will receive his knighthood on Tuesday. The Manchester United and England legend will be honoured for his contributions to sport and charity after learning of the prestigious award this summer.

Beckham stands as one of English football's most iconic personalities and was awarded an OBE in 2003. Having allegedly been in the running for a knighthood since 2011, he will finally become Sir David following his inclusion in King Charles' Birthday Honours list back in June. The 50-year-old played a crucial part in bringing the London 2012 Olympics to Britain, has served as a Unicef ambassador for twenty years and has been collaborating with King Charles and The King's Foundation since 2024.

During his Windsor Castle ceremony, tradition dictates that Beckham will kneel on his right knee while the King or another Royal Family member taps his right shoulder and then his left with a sword blade.

Speaking in June when Beckham's honour was revealed, he told PA: "Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and it was literally a boyhood dream come true.

"I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment," he added. "It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I'm immensely proud and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family."

He also posted on Instagram after informing his mother of the accolade and wrote alongside a photo: "Mum cried when she arrived, cried during lunch and cried when I was leaving. It was a special moment for us all."

Following Beckham's ceremony he will opt to use his new official designation of Sir David Beckham. Former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson received his knighthood in 1999 and he confessed that he was uncertain about embracing the new title but was encouraged to do so by his relatives.

"I put it to the family," Ferguson revealed to United's official magazine in 2000. "Cathy was a bit, 'Oh, I don't know, what would your father think?' And my son said, 'Mum, it's nothing to do with Dad's parents. They're gone. They'd be proud of him - you can't refuse this, it's recognition of what he's done.' We had a discussion and decided it was right."

Beckham's spouse, ex-Spice Girl Victoria, will also gain a new designation after Tuesday's ceremony and will now be known as 'Lady Beckham.'

The footballing legend could have been attending such a ceremony much earlier had it not been for some emails being exposed in 2017 that allegedly slammed the honours system and committee.