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In accordance with tradition, David Beckham will partake in a ceremonial ritual at Windsor Castle, where he will kneel on his right knee. During this event, the King or another member of the Royal Family will ceremonially touch his right shoulder, followed by his left, with the blade of a sword.
Reflecting on the announcement of his honor back in June, Beckham shared with the Press Association: “Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were immensely patriotic and proud of being British, I never imagined I would receive such a humbling accolade. Representing and captaining my country was the pinnacle of my career, fulfilling a dream I’ve held since childhood.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to do the work I do, and I’m thankful to be acknowledged for contributions that bring me such joy,” he continued. “It’s going to take some time for this to sink in, but I am profoundly proud, and sharing this moment with my family is truly emotional.”
Beckham also took to Instagram to share the moment he broke the news to his mother, posting a photo with the caption: “Mum was overwhelmed with emotion, shedding tears upon arrival, during lunch, and again as I was leaving. It was a profoundly special moment for our family.”
Following the ceremony, Beckham will adopt the title Sir David Beckham. His former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, who was knighted in 1999, once admitted he had reservations about using the title but was persuaded by his family to embrace it.
“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.