Former England football star David Beckham has described receiving his knighthood from King Charles III at Windsor Castle as the 'proudest moment' of his life. The 50-year-old, who earned 115 caps for his country and played for giants Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and AC Milan, was knighted for his services to football and charity. Beckham called it a 'proud day' for a 'boy from the East End' to be 'here at Windsor Castle, to be honored by His Majesty, The King, the most important and respected institution in the world'. 'This is without a doubt the proudest moment of my life,' he told the Associated Press. Known for his sharp style, Beckham wore a grey suit designed by his wife, pop star turned fashion designer Victoria, who attended the ceremony at Windsor Castle, west London, with his parents, Ted and Sandra. His attire and unusual hairstyles drew the attention of the British tabloid press. He also successfully moved past being described as 'the most hated man in Britain' after being sent off in a 1998 World Cup match against Argentina. 'Being an east end boy, it's a very proud day,' said Beckham. Beckham has been styled as 'Sir David' since the honor was announced in June, while his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, is styled as 'Lady Beckham'. When asked if he got a chance to speak with King Charles during the ceremony, Beckham said he was 'very impressed with my suit', adding, 'He's one of the most stylish men I know, and he's definitely inspired many of my looks over the years, and he definitely inspired this look'. Beckham, who retired from playing in 2013, added: 'I looked at old photos of him as a little boy in a morning suit and thought, that's what I want to wear. I gave the photos to my wife, and she did it (designed it)'. Beckham considers the honor particularly special as he has 'always been a massive fan of the monarchy'. 'I've been so lucky in my career to have won what I've won and achieved what I've achieved, but to get an honor like this, a knighthood, is something that surpasses anything I could have ever imagined,' he said. The knighthood caps years of diligent work that goes beyond football, transforming him into a global icon at the intersection of sport, fashion, and business. He was believed to have been on the verge of being knighted after helping London win its bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, but British authorities vetoed his nomination after his name surfaced in a tax evasion case, for which he was later cleared. Other sporting figures have received the honor, including Beckham's former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Scottish tennis star Andy Murray. Beckham currently co-owns the American club Inter Miami, where he also holds a significant stake, and is a co-owner of English League Two club Salford City. Time magazine included Beckham in its list of the 100 most influential people in philanthropy this past May. Even at the height of his football career, Beckham was thinking about building a global brand after his playing days were over.
