David Beckham has given rare insight into his relationship with the Royal Family in a new interview, with the football legend admitting ‘I always get emotional’ talking about them.
The ex-England captain, 49, is currently in Davos attending the World Economic Forum, alongside global leaders, in his capacity as the UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador.
During the event, the football star was asked about his association with the King’s Foundation, one of the monarch’s key charities, after being appointed its ambassador last June.
Describing himself as a ‘huge royalist’, the sports star also stressed his support for the Prince of Wales.
‘I always get emotional talking about anything that I do with our Royal Family,’ he told the interviewer.
‘I was brought up in a household that adored and loved everything that came with the Royal Family.’
The father-of-four added that he has joined forces with Prince William ‘whenever he’s asked me to get involved’ and support causes such as veteran welfare or fundraising efforts for London’s Air Ambulance Charity ‘to get two new helicopters’ for the city.
‘To be involved in that has always been a “yes” for me,’ he continued. ‘Whenever the Prince of Wales sends me a message and says “I need you to do this” or “be there”, it’s always a “yes”.’
Beckham spoke of his pride at being asked to represent the King’s Foundation, adding his mother Sandra West ‘burst into tears’ when he told her the news.
He continued: ‘She knows my grandparents would have been proud that I have played such an important role in the Royal Family and the charities that they have.’
David gushed that ‘our King is an incredible man’ while highlighting his decades-long efforts to empower young people, champion sustainability, and preserving ‘lost arts’ during his interview.
He recalled his visit to Charles’ beloved Highgrove Estate after being named one of the King’s Foundation’s ambassadors last May and reminisced over some ‘great pictures’ of the duo talking and laughing together.
David also said he shares several common interests with Charles, 76, when the American interviewer interjected to add: ‘Is he really into bee-keeping too? Is that a very popular thing to be into in the UK?’
‘I didn’t think it would be,’ David replied, before adding, ‘but apparently it is.
‘He’s into bees, I’m into bees. He’s into the countryside, I’m into the countryside, and he’s into empowering young people. So I’m very honoured with that role,’ he concluded, still speaking about his work with the King’s Foundation.
Palace aides previously said David was approached by the foundation to be an ambassador due to his and the King’s shared interests in nature and opportunities for young people.
David, who is the co-owner of Inter Miami CF, was first invited to see the charity’s work last October, as reported by the Daily Mail, and lives just an hour down the road from Highgrove, in the Cotswolds.
Insiders revealed that the King and David had ‘a great time’ during the visit, with the latter leaving feeling ‘enthusiastic and inspired’.
The football star, who has remained close with Charles over the years, appeared to sweeten the friendship when he gave Charles a jar of his homemade honey in 2023.
The King, who has kept beehives at his royal estates, joked: ‘We shall have to do a swap.’
David, who recently celebrated 20 years in his role as the UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador, was discussing the 7 Fund during his appearance at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday.
He had launched the fundraising initiative in collaboration with the UN children’s agency in 2015 to bolster support for schemes targeted at the welfare of at-risk children in seven different countries.
While speaking at the global event, David expertly side-tracked a question about The Crown, the royal drama that is ranked among Netflix’s most successful releases ever.
When asked whether The Crown is accurate, he quipped ‘I wouldn’t know’ before flashing a rather all-knowing smile.
Speculation that David is on the cusp of receiving a knighthood went into overdrive last December, when he attended his first-ever state banquet alongside wife Victoria.
He looked the part in his formal white tie as he mingled with King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales at the glittering event held for the Emir of Qatar and his wife.
But the three-course dinner is just the latest example of his growing closeness with the British royals.
However his deepening relationship with The Firm comes after his spectacular falling out with Prince Harry and Meghan over rumours of a ‘leaking’ spat dating back to 2018.
And with Harry becoming estranged from his family and abandoning Britain for California in 2020, some royal watchers have suggested there is now a ‘Harry-sized hole’ waiting to be filled.
They believe David could be just the fit, pointing out he knows how to handle a press conference (and if needed a media backlash), looks good in a suit, and Victoria could bring the star power of the Spice Girls to any occasion.
From their plush home in the Cotswolds, they could be on the M40 and at the Palace in little more than 90 minutes – a tad closer than Harry and Meghan across the Atlantic.
Perhaps the biggest example of things moving in the direction of ‘Prince Beckham’ was seen in May when King Charles held a private meeting with him – but snubbed his son Harry by saying he was too busy with ‘various other priorities’.
