01 November 2023 , 07:00
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David Beckham has accepted an invitation for dinner with King Charles - potentially clearing the way for him to finally receive a knighthood.
The former England captain will dine with the monarch to discuss the possibility of him assuming a role as an ambassador for The Prince's Foundation. The royal charity, set up by the King while he was heir to the throne in 1976, may use Beckham to bring some of his global appeal and star power to their operation.
With the ex-Manchester United hero boasting a world-wide profile, the move would also represent a chance for him to strengthen his case for a knighthood. According to The Sun, Beckham's desire to be named a 'Sir' is an 'open secret' and they contend that linking up with the King would 'certainly help' him to achieve his dream.
Such a venture would not be the first time that Beckhaml has been involved in a cause linked with the Royal Family. He previously worked in a similar role with the Invictus Games, which was founded by Prince Harry as an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.
Beckham's cause for a knighthood would now be helped by him joining forces 'with the King rather than Harry', it's claimed. This may well suit the Inter Miami owner, though, with relations between him and the Sussexes said to have hit the rocks in recent times, as per The Mail on Sunday.
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A source told them that that Beckham was left "absolutely bloody furious" following a telephone conversation in which Harry and Meghan accused him and wife Victoria of leaking information during a tense phone call between the couples. As a result, an insider said that a chance of reconciliation is now 'so unlikely'.
The opportunity to get involved with the King's Prince's Trust also is an opportunity for the former Real Madrid superstar to smooth over past controversy surrounding leaked emails in 2017. The supposed correspondence between Beckham and PR man Simon Oliveira saw the star allegedly explode fury with the honours committee.
Former England captain David Beckham received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2003In the emails, he is alleged to have turned his ire on the decision makers for their decision to continually omit him from receiving a knighthood. It was claimed that he called them 'unappreciative c****', while it was also said that he had said he did not 'care about being knighted'.
Beckham, who was awarded an OBE for services to football in 2003, was alleged to have added: "I expected nothing less. It's a disgrace to be honest and if I was American I would of [sic] got something like this 10 years ago."
More recently, the former Old Trafford icon's admiration for the Royal Family has been quite pronounced. Famously, Beckham would queue for than 12 hours to pay his respects to the Queen during her lying in state at Westminster Abbey.
He later said: "Anytime throughout my career I've been asked to do anything regarding the royal family, Her Majesty, the princes, our King now, I have always been very willing to do that."