As a footballer, his artistry on the pitch elevated him to sporting royalty. Now David Beckham has won official recognition from King Charles by becoming an ambassador for his charity.
As his appointment was announced tonight, the former England captain said he was ‘excited’ to have been chosen for the prestigious role at the King’s Foundation, following a meeting with Charles at his beloved Highgrove Estate.
He is the first ambassador to be named by the charity since Charles was crowned, and the move is certain to increase speculation that Beckham’s long-held dream of a knighthood could finally become reality.
Speaking about his new role, Beckham said: ‘I’m excited to be working with the King’s Foundation and to have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity’s work.
‘I’ve always been keen to help young people to expand their horizons and I’m particularly looking forward to supporting the foundation’s education programmes and its efforts to ensure young people have greater access to nature.’
David Beckham (right) has won official recognition from King Charles (left) by becoming an ambassador for his charity
The former England captain said he was ‘excited’ to have been chosen for the prestigious role at the King’s Foundation, following a meeting with Charles at his beloved Highgrove Estate
The foundation, established in 1986 when Charles was Prince of Wales, is run from Dumfries House in Scotland. It aims to support ‘sustainable communities’ and spearheads education courses for young people, often with a focus on rural skills.
Beckham, 49, was invited to the King’s Gloucestershire estate last month to meet the monarch, 75, and enjoy a tour of the luxuriant gardens, which span 15 acres and are cared for by the foundation. Highgrove is a treasured personal home for the King, but is also the base for educational workshops funded by the charity, whose students live and study at Highgrove.
Charming pictures from their meeting show Beckham laughing and smiling with an equally relaxed and cheerful King.
The tete-a-tete was one of Charles’s first duties back at work after his cancer diagnosis, underlining the meeting’s importance to the King.
It is understood that a number of other VIPs are in discussions about becoming ambassadors.
But while the appointment is a boost for Beckham and the foundation, the cheerful images of the Highgrove meeting on May 3 might make painful viewing for Prince Harry, who was unable to see his father during his UK visit around that time.
Staff at the charity are thrilled to welcome Beckham and view it as a ‘big moment’. Aides said the footballer was approached by the foundation to be an ambassador due to his and the King’s shared interests in nature and opportunities for young people.
Beckham was first invited to see the charity’s work last October, as reported by this newspaper, and lives just an hour down the road from Highgrove, in the Cotswolds. Insiders revealed that the King and Beckham had ‘a great time’ during the visit, with the footballer leaving ‘enthusiastic and inspired’.
Beckham is known to have a good relationship with the King, and appeared to sweeten the friendship last year when he gave Charles a jar of his homemade honey. The King, who has kept beehives at his royal estates, joked: ‘We shall have to do a swap.’
Beckham is known to have a good relationship with the King, and appeared to sweeten the friendship last year when he gave Charles a jar of his homemade honey
Beckham was introduced to craftspeople on the estate making furniture and textiles
The football star met pupils studying woodwork, furniture-making and embroidery, the latter funded by the King’s Foundation in partnership with Chanel
Highgrove is a treasured personal home for the King, but is also the base for educational workshops funded by the charity, whose students live and study at Highgrove
Speaking about his new role, Beckham referenced his own surprising passion for beekeeping that developed during lockdown.
He said: ‘It was inspiring to hear from the King about His Majesty’s foundation during my visit to Highgrove Gardens and compare beekeeping tips!
‘Having developed a love for the countryside, I’m also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which are so central to the foundation’s work.’
As ambassador, Beckham will promote awareness of the charity by supporting campaigns and attending events, including the upcoming King’s Foundation Awards.
He will also likely share updates about the foundation’s work to his 87.8 million Instagram followers.
The King’s Foundation, renamed to reflect Charles’s accession, is reshaping its image after its former chief executive, the King’s long-time aide Michael Fawcett, was forced to step down over a scandal involving donations from a foreign tycoon.
Beckham meets Queen Elizabeth II during a reception for the Football Association held at Buckingham Palace in 2002
The football star mingles with Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, at the MGM Music Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, in December 2022
Beckham sees red in the last 16 of the 1998 World Cup against Argentina. England went on to lose on penalties and many blamed Becks for the defeat
However, all was forgiven when Beckham scored a last gasp equalising free kick in 2001 against Greece to send England to the World Cup
He was captaining England when he scored the stunning goal, sending the crowd wild at Old Trafford and the nation into a state of euphoria
Beckham celebrates scoring a first half goal while playing for LA Galaxy in October 2010
Beckham applauds fans as after a match between Manchester United and Charlton Athletic in 2003
David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham pose with their children. From left to right: Brooklyn, Cruz, Harper and Romeo
Two staff members were questioned by police after The Mail on Sunday exposed the scandal, but last year the investigation was closed with no charges brought.
During his Highgrove visit, the football star, who received the OBE in 2003, was also introduced to students at Highgrove, whose tuition fees and materials are covered by foundation scholarships.
He met pupils studying woodwork, furniture-making and embroidery, the latter funded by the King’s Foundation in partnership with Chanel, whose students are taught traditional hand-sewing techniques that are highly coveted by haute couture designers.
In 1985: David rocked a fluffy head of hair when he was a youngster
Ten years on, Becks was making his debut for Manchester United against Leeds United in May 1995
Pictured: Beckham in 1997 while training with England. The footballer had discovered hair gel and grew out his hair that year
In 1998 Beckham created the curtains look and began experimenting with hair-dye with blond highlights
Just two years later, Beckham shaved his hair completely off but added some bling to his look with diamond earrings
In 2001 David turned heads when he showed off his Mohican haircut during an England press conference
Ever the fashion icon, he also shaved down the sides and celebrated his growing status as a fashion icon as he launched a sunglasses range in London in 2002
David sported a high ponytail to show off his diamond earrings and bronzed tan in 2003
David previously revealed the only hairstyle he regrets were his cornrows, which he wore ahead of a meeting with Nelson Mandela in 2003
Beckham had highlighted locks and a goatee as he appeared at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester to show off the new England away kit in 2006