David Beckham’s email scandal as England icon snubbed for knighthood | Football | Sport
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham looks on prior to a game between Atlanta United and Inter Miami at Chase Stadium. (Image: Getty Images)
David Beckham has once again been overlooked for a knighthood in the UK’s New Year’s Honours List, reigniting memories of alleged leaked emails from 2017.
Despite bringing Lionel Messi to the MLS with Inter Miami, raising substantial amounts for charity, and becoming a cultural icon on top of his impressive football achievements, Beckham, 49, has been omitted from the King’s New Year’s Honours List yet again, 21 years after receiving an Order of the British Empire (OBE).
A knighthood is a highly regarded individual honour bestowed by the Royal Family, which would have seen Beckham become ‘Sir David Beckham’. However, as the Inter Miami co-owner has been snubbed once more, many will recall the alleged angry emails allegedly sent by him in 2017.
On June 13, 2003, Beckham was awarded an OBE for his contributions to football in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Speculation has been rampant in the years since about whether Beckham would be destined for a knighthood, a question which rose to prominence once more in 2013 when he appeared on Jonathan Ross’ chat show.
Ross concluded an episode with high praise for Beckham, suggesting: “I don’t see how they could possibly pass you over. How can they not give you a knighthood?”
Nevertheless, the football legend did not receive a knighthood that New Year and has been repeatedly passed over for the honour, with 2024 marking yet another year without such Royal recognition.
Prince Charles speaks with David Beckham and Brooklyn Beckham. (Image: Getty Images)
Public outcry ensued in 2017 following another honours list snub, when alleged emails were unearthed showing Beckham’s frustration where he reportedly said, “I don’t care about being knighted,” and lambasted the committee as “unappreciative c***s” while calling the situation “a disgrace.”
Although Beckham acknowledged some emails may have been manipulated, he allegedly criticised Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins’s OBE, awarded in 2017, asking: “For what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops.”
As time has passed, Beckham has remained without a knighthood, even after his observable dedication during the national mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II and his announcement to serve as an ambassador for the King’s Foundation charity in June.
Sir Rod Stewart has mocked David Beckham over his snubs. (Image: PA)
Beckham was left out in the cold once more this year, as rumours of him being included in the King’s birthday honours fizzled out to nothing. The football legend’s ongoing absence from the knighthood ranks has raised eyebrows among his peers.
At the first-ever award ceremony by the King’s Foundation, Sir Rod Stewart couldn’t help but poke fun at Beckham for not having a ‘Sir’ in front of his name. Knighted in 2016, the rock icon quipped: “I am also wonderfully honoured to be a knight and, David, yours is coming soon.”
Beckham, ever the good sport, simply smiled and shook his head in response.
Off the field, Beckham has been making waves with Inter Miami, positioning the club as a major player in American soccer. Speculation about a potential knighthood resurfaced in early December after Beckham seemed to be getting chummier with the King following Stewart’s playful jab.
The Prince of Wales (left) with David Beckham in front of one of the new London Air Ambulance Charity helicopters. (Image: PA)
David and his wife Victoria were seen at a state dinner in honour of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar – despite Beckham facing criticism for his role in promoting Qatar’s contentious World Cup bid.
However, despite the news, Beckham is widely regarded as “the perfect guest” among the royals, making the omission all the more surprising, and likely leaving the Miami chief feeling bitterly disappointed once again.
