David Beckham has had to be patient in waiting to receive a knighthood, but the former England captain reportedly lost out on the chance to be knighted years earlier
David Beckham seemed to have jeopardised his chances of receiving a knighthood after a series of shocking emails were leaked.
The England legend was granted his wish this summer as he was finally granted the honour after years of waiting. However, the Inter Miami co-owner could’ve had his ‘sir’ title much earlier, if not for a barrage of controversial emails allegedly sent from the star to his long-standing PR Simon Oliveira.
Beckham, 50, was reportedly given the green light to receive a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List for 2022. Yet, it wasn’t to be due to the emails that dated back to 2017.
The Manchester United hero is alleged to have called the honours committee “unappreciative c***s.” He also supposedly claimed that he didn’t actually “care about being knighted,” while the ex-Real Madrid winger is said to have questioned why opera star Katherine Jenkins was awarded an OBE.
“For what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops,” Beckham is alleged to have asked in reference to Jenkins receiving the honour, which she was granted in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List.
Following his snub, Beckham is also reported to have said: “I expected nothing less. It’s a disgrace to be honest and if I was American I would of got something like this 10 years ago.”
At the time, Beckham’s representative dismissed the reports, branding them as misleading and founded on manipulated material. They stated: “This story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and doctored private emails from a third-party server and gives a deliberately inaccurate picture.”
A close associate of Beckham also maintained that some of the emails had been “doctored” whilst others had been penned “in the heat of the moment.”
Beckham was awarded an OBE back in 2003. Nevertheless, the leaked correspondence was allegedly sent following his rejection for the more prestigious honour.
Despite the controversy, Beckham was acknowledged in the King’s Birthday Honours List for his contributions to Sport and Charity this year.
Reflecting on the recognition, he expressed feeling “humbled”. He continued: “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.
“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.”
Beckham, who earned 115 caps for England and captained the Three Lions, has maintained his significant charitable contributions. He has also developed a strong bond with King Charles over recent years.
David’s wife Victoria Beckham subsequently penned an affectionate tribute to her husband, expressing her pride in his new knighthood. The Instagram post also highlighted the star’s commitment to his family.
Victoria, 51, shared a photo of her planting a kiss on a beaming David’s cheek, captioning it: “You’ve always been my knight in shining armour, but now it’s official. Sir @davidbeckham! ! ! What an honour, I couldn’t be prouder of you.
“Your dedication to the things that matter most – your country, your work, your passion, and most of all, your family – has never wavered.
“The way you’ve touched so many lives over the years with kindness and humility speaks volumes about the man you are and continues to inspire us everyday. But above all else, I’m so, so proud to call you mine. I love you so much xxxx.”