It has been widely tipped that David Beckham will finally be knighted in The King’s Birthday Honours List.
And although the official list will be released on Saturday, the Mail’s Royal experts shared their thoughts on the football legend’s long-awaited honour during the latest episode of Palace Confidential.
‘David Beckham has been angling for an honour for years,’ Richard Eden, the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor, said on the hit YouTube show.
‘The reason we know this with certainty is there was some very embarrassing leaked emails years ago where he was expressing his desire for a knighthood and he was being very rude about some others who had achieved honours before him.’
In February 2017, the former England captain was targeted by hackers who leaked emails which alleged he used his charity work as part of a campaign to win a knighthood.
The former England captain was accused of calling the honours committee ‘unappreciative c****’ for its failure to make him Sir David.
He also took out his anger on classical singer Katherine Jenkins who was made an OBE in 2013 – a decision allegedly branded by Beckham as a ‘f****** joke’.
‘Terrible leaks’, Richard exclaimed to fellow panellist Rebecca English, the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor and host Jo Elvin.
David Beckham stands with his wife Victoria Beckham after receiving his OBE in 2003
Richard Eden, the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor, explained that Beckham has been ‘angling for an honour for years’
Richard Eden (left) is joined by Rebecca English (centre), the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor, on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, hosted by Jo Elvin (right)
Referring to the rumour that Beckham will finally receive a knighthood in Saturday’s King’s Birthday Honours List, Richard said: ‘That’s great for him.
‘It means that Posh Spice, as she was, Victoria Beckham, will be properly posh,’ he added.
Although cruel trolls have been questioning Beckham’s knighthood, Richard goes onto explain that the honour comes as the former footballer has ‘forged closer links with the Royal Family’.
‘We saw how close they’ve become at the Chelsea Flower Show actually where it was very chummy,’ he said.
But David and Victoria’s royal connections go further back than the Chelsea Flower Show.
The A-list couple attended not one but two royal weddings – Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in April 2011 as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in May 2018.
In June 2024, Beckham was made an ambassador of the King’s Foundation after a meeting with Charles at his beloved Highgrove Estate. During a tour of the luxuriant gardens which span 15 acres, the unlikely pair exchanged tips on beekeeping.
Then, the former Manchester United midfielder attended his first-ever state banquet surrounded by royals and Qatari dignitaries at Buckingham Palace in December 2024.
King Charles greets David Beckham at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 20, 2025
David and Victoria Beckham attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018
The former footballer stands in the queue to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II inside Westminster Hall
‘Now that Sir David will have his gong, ‘ Jo asked, ‘he won’t ghost the King, will he?’
‘Don’t be so cynical,’ Richard chuckled. ‘To be fair, I think David Beckham has always been a monarchist.
‘He always loved watching the Queen’s Speech and don’t forget, he queued for 13 hours to pass by the Queen Elizabeth when she was lying in state.
‘That was genuine so he is a monarchist. He’ll love the chance to mix with the Royal Family and I’m sure he won’t be ghosting the King now that he’s got his honour.’
‘You mention that queuing up,’ Rebecca interjected, ‘I remember speaking to him about it at a couple of functions.
‘He was saying that his grandparents would have “absolutely queued up to pay their respects and I feel I am doing it for them”.’
‘They would have been extremely proud of him,’ Richard added.
For more fascinating insights from the Mail’s team of unrivalled experts, watch the latest episode of Palace Confidential in full now and subscribe to the Daily Mail Royals YouTube channel.
