**David Beckham to Receive Knighthood Amid Reports of rift with Son Brooklyn and Staggering Wealth**
David Beckham, the former England football captain and global sporting icon, is set to finally be granted a knighthood in the upcoming King’s Birthday Honours list—an announcement that brings a wave of celebration to his already illustrious career. Yet, the honour arrives during a period marred by speculation about an ongoing family rift with his eldest son, Brooklyn, as attention also turns to the Beckhams’ immense financial empire.
Beckham, who celebrated his 50th birthday this May, has long been regarded as one of the country’s leading sports personalities and philanthropists. Calls for his elevation to “Sir David” have grown steadily, with fans and pundits alike citing his achievements on the pitch and his charitable contributions. According to reports in The Sun, this recognition will be formally bestowed upon him by King Charles III next week—a move that many observers say is overdue.
The announcement appears to have been presaged in May, when Beckham greeted the King and Queen Camilla at the Chelsea Flower Show. During a brief exchange, the King jokingly hinted at the honour, suggesting a sense of anticipation had already built up around the decision. The football icon responded with a sense of gratitude and delight, underlining the prestige of the occasion.
Beckham first rose to prominence at Manchester United, where he was a linchpin in the club’s successes during the 1990s and early 2000s. After more than a decade at Old Trafford, he embarked on a series of headline-making moves: first to Real Madrid, then to LA Galaxy in the United States, and later stints with AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. Beckham hung up his boots in 2013, but his influence did not wane—he also captained England 58 times across 115 international appearances.
With retirement, Beckham parlayed his fame and business acumen into a remarkably successful portfolio. Today, he remains a co-owner of Inter Miami in the United States’ Major League Soccer. The Sunday Times’ Rich List recently reported that the combined net worth of Beckham and his wife Victoria has soared to approximately £500 million, marking a £45 million increase within the past year alone. This sum places the couple not far behind King Charles III himself, whose wealth is estimated to be £640 million.
A significant chunk of Beckham’s fortune derives from his playing career, with his five-year deal at LA Galaxy alone yielding a staggering £188 million. Further wealth has come through endorsements and commercial relationships with brands such as Emporio Armani, Adidas, PepsiCo, Gillette, and Breitling. His eponymous Netflix documentary, released in late 2023, reportedly netted another £28 million. Meanwhile, Victoria Beckham’s own earnings remain impressive, from her days atop the charts with the Spice Girls—who have sold over 100 million records worldwide—to her pursuit of high-end fashion design.
Yet, these glittering successes are set against persistent rumours of familial discord. Speculation about a falling-out between David Beckham and his son Brooklyn has been circulating since 2022. The precise cause of the rift remains unclear, but Brooklyn’s absence from his father’s milestone birthday celebrations earlier this year intensified the gossip. Reports allege that tension surrounding relationships within the Beckham family circle may partly be to blame, although friends of the family have dismissed various accounts as fictitious or unkind.
Brooklyn, now married to American actress Nicola Peltz, has grown increasingly distant according to some insiders. Sources close to the family suggest ongoing hurt on both sides, and there appears to be little sign of reconciliation at present. Nicola’s supporters have suggested that her entrance into the Beckham family has brought underlying issues to light—claims vigorously denied by those in David and Victoria’s camp, who have labelled such allegations as “ludicrous”.
The situation is further complicated by the personal lives of Beckham’s other children; recent reports of Romeo Beckham’s amicable split with girlfriend Kim Turnbull have drawn yet more media analysis, though there remains no indication this will prompt a mending of fences between father and son.
While David Beckham’s imminent knighthood will be a source of pride and likely celebration throughout much of the UK sporting world, the unresolved family issues bring a bittersweet edge to the honour. As with many high-profile families, the Beckhams find their personal lives under intense scrutiny, with achievements and challenges alike playing out in the public gaze.
Observers will likely keep a close watch on the family’s next moves—both on the red carpet and behind closed doors. For Beckham, the knighthood serves as affirmation of his sporting legacy and philanthropic impact; how it influences his family fortunes remains to be seen.