DAVID Beckham is to finally be awarded a knighthood, The Sun can reveal.
The footie legend, 50, will become a ‘Sir’ in the King’s Birthday Honours list next week.
His Spice Girl wife Victoria will be known as Lady Beckham.
Ex-England and Man United star Becks has longed for a knighthood for years.
The news will also bring some joy to the Beckham household amid a rift with their eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz.
Politicians and fellow sports stars have spent years calling for the man known as “Golden Balls” to receive a knighthood.
The father of four — who played 115 times for England and has made major contributions to charity— has struck up a firm friendship with King Charles.
And the monarch dropped a potential hint last month that his wait was coming to an end.
Countryside-loving Becks, who is an ambassador of The King’s Foundation, was seen greeting Charles and Queen Camilla at the Chelsea Flower Show.
He shares a passion for horticulture with Charles and sported the King’s rose in his lapel.
Charles asked him: “You got it, didn’t you?”
Becks replied: “It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.”
Letters inviting recipients to accept honours are sent out weeks in advance – and one may have already landed on David’s mat at the time of their chat.
He was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 after helping to secure the London 2012 Olympics.
But he was blocked from getting the title by the Honours Committee after becoming caught up in a tax avoidance scheme, along with many other stars.
Becks retired from playing in 2013, and his finances were cleared by the taxman at least four years ago – paving the way for him to finally get the coveted honour.
Many thought it would finally come in 2022, after he spent 13 hours queuing with the public to pay his respects at Queen Elizabeth’s coffin, which lay in state in Westminster.
But he was again left waiting for the honour.
The Sun understands he narrowly missed out on a knighthood in the New Year Honours List published in December last year.
Former England football manager Gareth Southgate got the award.
David had been given an OBE in 2003 for services to football.
He received it from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, watched by proud Victoria, sons Brooklyn and Romeo, and his grandparents.
David and his wife — who shot to fame with the Spice Girls before becoming a successful fashion designer — have an estimated combined net worth of £500million.
David also has a long history of charitable work, which will have been considered by officials on the Honours Committee.
It was inspiring to hear from The King about the work of His Majesty’s Foundation
David Beckham
Last year, he was formally made a charity ambassador by the King, and beekeeper Becks was buzzing with excitement at teaming up with him.
Charles invited Beckham to Highgrove to learn more about the charity, which focuses on “creating better communities where people, places and the planet can coexist in harmony”.
Tours of the grounds help to fund workshops and courses in traditional skills and crafts, and the former footie star met woodworking and embroidery students.
Becks said at the time: “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.
“Having developed a love for the countryside I’m also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which is so central to the Foundation’s work.
“It was inspiring to hear from The King about the work of His Majesty’s Foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens — and compare beekeeping tips.”
In 2020, he teamed up with the Chelsea Pensioners as he backed The Sun’s campaign to save the Poppy Appeal amid the devastating Covid lockdown.
He said he was “in awe” of the veterans as he delivered poppies to their London HQ.
David added: “With another lockdown coming it is more important than ever that we support our veterans.”
Becks, also dad to son Cruz and daughter Harper, has carried out lots of charity work focusing on children, and was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador 20 years ago.
To mark his 50th birthday last month he appealed for donations for the charity.
He was also a founding member of the leadership council of charity Malaria No More in 2009, helping to eradicate the disease, even visiting No 10 to highlight the issue.
In 2023, he delighted the Brentford Penguins – a football team for children with Down’s Syndrome — with a visit to celebrate them winning one of The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards.
He took footballing son Romeo with him to lead a surprise training session.
David celebrated his 50th last month with a string of parties, though Brooklyn stayed away.
The honours will be formally announced later this month.
The government does not comment on them beforehand.
BECKHAM enjoyed an 18-year career that included winning titles in four countries — England, Spain, the US and France — and made him one of the world’s best-known footballers. Some of his most striking moments are:
APRIL 1995: Becks makes his Premier League debut for Manchester United in a 0-0 draw against Leeds.
AUGUST 1996: Scores famous goal from halfway line against Wimbledon.
MARCH 1997: Meets Spice Girl Victoria at an Old Trafford charity match.
JANUARY 1998: Posh and Becks announce their engagement.
JUNE 1998: Plays in his first World Cup with England but is sent off in defeat against Argentina.
MARCH 1999: Has his first child, son Brooklyn, with fiancée Victoria.
MAY 1999: Wins the treble with United as they beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
JULY 1999: Weds Posh in lavish ceremony in Dublin’s Luttrellstown Castle.
NOVEMBER 2000: Named England captain for first time.
OCTOBER 2001: Celebrates as his free-kick goal against Greece takes England to World Cup, left.
JUNE 2003: Joins Real Madrid after falling out of favour with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
JANUARY 2005: Becomes a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, having previously supported its work for children.
MARCH 2005: Opens his first football academy.
JULY 2005: Helps London to win its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
JULY 2007: Joins US side LA Galaxy, before two loan moves to Italian giants AC Milan while in LA.
JANUARY 2013: Joins Paris Saint-Germain, donating wages to kids’ charity.
MAY 2013: Retires from professional football.
FEBRUARY 2015: The 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund is launched to mark his tenth year as goodwill ambassador.
JUNE 2024: Becomes a King’s Foundation ambassador.
ARSENAL fans are worried that Mikel Arteta could call off their striker search this summer after Mikel Merino continued his fine form in front of goal.
Merino, 28, scored once again as he helped Spain reach the Nations League final with an astonishing 5-3 victory over France.
The Gunners are crying out for a centre-forward this summer and reports suggest that they will be bringing in a new frontman over the coming months.
Arteta’s injury ravaged side forced him to put central midfielder Merino up top for the latter stages of the season.
And the former Sociedad star, who had never played as a striker before, took the opportunity with both hands – scoring seven goals and registering four assists from February onwards.
Now Merino has continued that form with Spain, scoring with a delightful finish on his week foot to help his nation to a dramatic win over France on Thursday night.
As well taken as the goal was, Arsenal fans have been left concerned by the performance – worrying Mikel Arteta will ditch his plans to sign one of Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres in favour of using Merino.
On social media, one wrote: “Merino scoring again for Spain. Yeah there’s no chance Arteta buys a striker this summer…”
While another added: “I’m happy Merino is scoring… but then again, I don’t want Arteta to start getting any ideas”.
A third joked: “What is Mikel Merino doing? Now Mikel Arteta won’t buy a striker.”
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And a fourth posted: “Who needs Gyokeres?”
Reports have suggested that one of Sesko or Gyokeres will be Emirates bound come the end of the summer window.
As for Merino’s contribution to Spain, he was one of four different scorers for the European champions in a crazy semi-final.
A Lamine Yamal brace, and goals from Pedri and Nico Williams piled misery on France who put up a late comeback, but still fell short of Spain’s class.
Real Madrid newbie Dean Huijsen was almost on the scoresheet too, but saw his spectacular acrobatic effort ruled out for offside – robbing the 20-year-old of a memorable first goal for the national team.
France managed to force a Dani Vivian own goal, a Kylian Mbappe penalty and a jaw-dropping long-range debut goal from Man City-bound Rayan Cherki.
While Randal Kolo Muani made it 5-4 in injury time, but it wasn’t enough to undo the damage caused by Spain earlier in the game.
Spain will now face Portugal in the Nations League final on Sunday.
That match, hosted at Bayern Munich‘s Allianz Arena, will see a match up of the past vs the future when Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, and Lamine Yamal, 17, face off for the first ever time.
EASTENDERS star Patsy Palmer’s bizarre x-rated acceptance speech was so explicit it was cut down for broadcast.
The actress – who plays Bianca Jackson in the BBC soap – took home the gong for the Best Comedy Performance.
She beat out Coronation Street’s Jack P. Shepherd, Emmerdale’s Nicola Wheeler and Hollyoaks’ Nicole Barber-Lane.
But when she went up to accept her award, Patsy, who is known for being in awkward telly moments, created another one.
After thanking people for voting for her, she went on an unexpected tangent – all about her vagina.
The unexpected – and lengthy – speech had the audience in a mixture of bafflement, hysterics and shock.
But when it aired tonight the only hint Patsy had gone full speed ahead with multiple mentions was the audience and host Jane McDonald’s reaction.
In the brief snippet shown Patsy said: “I’m glad I was there for the 40th because that was really where we celebrated the woman’s vagina.
“I think vaginas have always been funny.”
A source said: “It was so bizarre.
“One minute she’s doing a pretty normal acceptance speech and the next she’s launched into her own vagina monologue.
“And it just kept going and going. It was pretty odd.”
Some audience members took to social media in shock before tonight’s broadcast.
One wrote in response to a joke about the Soap Awards not being broadcast live for fear of what the actors would say: “I mean perhaps they are given how many times Patsy Palmer said the word vagina in her acceptance speech!”
A second said: “I cannot wait to see what parts of Patsy Palmer’s vagina tangent makes the tv broadcast.”
And another added earlier today: “Happy Patsy Palmer Vagina Speech Day to all who celebrate.”
It was a good night for EastEnders with the soap taking home eight awards – almost sweeping the board.
Hollyoaks won three, Emmerdale took home two and Coronation Street was left in the dust with just a lifetime achievement award for David Neilson in its haul.
Here's who took home trophys at the 2025 British Soap Awards
Best Single Episode – Eastenders: Phil’s Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985
Best Young Performer – Emmerdale – Amelia Flanagan as April Windsor
Scene Of The Year – Eastenders: Angie Watts’ Shock Return
Best Newcomer – Hollyoaks: Isabelle Smith as Frankie Osborne
Villain Of The Year – Eastenders: Navin Chowdhry as Nish Panesar
Best Family – Hollyoaks: The Osbornes
Best Dramatic Performance – Eastenders: Steve McFadden as Phil
Mitchell
Best On-Screen Partnership – Eastenders: Rudolph Walker & Angela
Wynter as Patrick & Yolande Trueman
Outstanding Achievement Award – Coronation Street: David Neilson
Best Comedy Performance – Eastenders: Patsy Palmer as Bianca Jackson
The Tony Warren Award – Emmerdale: Mike Plant
Best Storyline – Hollyoaks: Sibling Sexual Abuse
Best Leading Performer – Eastenders: Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater
Best British Soap – Eastenders
