Copyright walesonline
Sir David Beckham left King Charles visibly impressed during his long-awaited knighthood ceremony . The legendary England footballer, who was being honoured for his decades of service to sport and charity, paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife, Victoria Beckham while being knighted by the monarch. He used the occasion to credit his partner of 26 years for the impeccably tailored suit that caught King Charles' eye. Freshly dubbed Sir David , the 50-year-old arrived at Windsor Castle looking every inch the British gentleman in a classic ensemble - and in a touching tribute to his wife's talents the former Manchester United star has revealed he asked Victoria to tailor it for him herself. As the King conferred the honour, recognising Beckham's contributions to football, humanitarian causes and global ambassadorship, he couldn't resist complimenting the suit. "He was quite impressed with my suit," Beckham told PA. "He's kind of the most elegantly dressed man I know, so he's inspired quite a few of my looks over the years - and he definitely inspired this one. "It was something my wife made me," he added. "I looked at old pictures of him when he was younger, wearing morning suits, and thought, that's exactly what I want. So I showed them to Victoria, and she created it." Victoria - now Lady Beckham - is a celebrated fashion designer whose eponymous label is synonymous with modern sophistication and tailored precision, qualities that clearly shone through in her husband's outfit on Tuesday. Beckham's knighthood has been years in the making. Rising from Manchester United's famed youth academy to captain England and play for global giants including Real Madrid, AC Milan and LA Galaxy, he retired in 2013 but continued to shape the sport off the pitch. Through his UNICEF ambassadorship, campaigns against malaria and initiatives supporting youth sports, Beckham cemented his legacy as both a sporting icon and humanitarian. He first received an OBE in 2003, and speculation about a knighthood has circulated for more than a decade. After several near-misses, Beckham's name finally appeared in King Charles ' Birthday Honours List in June. Though the news briefly risked controversy when details leaked prematurely, the honour went ahead since the leak did not originate from Beckham or his representatives. Now joining an elite circle of footballing knights - including the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Gareth Southgate - Beckham fought back tears as he accepted the accolade. "It's been… not stressful," he told Sky News. "I wasn't nervous, just emotional." He also shared a lighthearted remark about how his family might address him now: "I'm not insisting my kids call me 'Sir,' but they can call me Sir Dad if they want," he joked. In a statement released earlier, Beckham reflected on the significance of the honour: " Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined receiving such a humbling honour. "To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and a boyhood dream come true. Off the pitch, I've been fortunate to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation. "I'm so lucky to do work that gives me so much fulfilment and I'm immensely proud to share this moment with my family."
