'David Beckham deserves a knighthood but ordinary people should be honoured too'
David Beckham finally received a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours list - and we asked Mirror readers whether the Manchester United icon deserves the accolade. The former England star has been considered for the honour for over a decade, having made notable donations to charity and receiving an OBE from the late Queen Elizabeth in 2003 for his services to football.
Beckham, who played 115 times for England, will soon take the title of Sir and join a long list of football legends who have also been recognised by the Royal Family. His wife Victoria will also be known as Lady Beckham.
The King's Birthday Honours List was announced on Friday night with over a thousand recipients awarded for their exceptional achievements, with a particular focus on those who have given their time to public service.
This year's recipients include dedicated community champions, role models in sport, pioneers in the arts, passionate health workers, and supporters of young people.
Other celebs to be honoured included Strictly Come Dancing's Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, Oscar winner Gary Oldman and The Who's Roger Daltrey.
Earlier this week we asked Mirror readers if they thought Becks deserves to be knighted, and 60 percent said 'No'. Around 12,452 people took part in our poll, and a staggering 7,472 selected the option 'No - I don't think so.'
Taking to the comments section of three Mirror articles, readers have had their say on the topic. One user penned: "There are lots of other ordinary people who do not have famous personas, influence and money to start up a charity or input to other charities that for me deserve knighthoods or damehoods than these pair.
"Unfortunately, we live in a celebrity world and the ordinary man, woman and child who do so much for charities, hardly get noticed let alone a thought for a knighthood or damehood. I recognise and think much more of those who deserve the recognition or a recognition than a very wealthy footballer and his wife."
Another echoed: "Where are the knighthoods for the people who fought to save lives during Covid ? Or the war heroes who lost limbs in Afghanistan and Falklands ? Or the doctors and surgeons who save lives daily in the theatres, the Samaritans and ambulance staff who save lives or work helping people to overcome tragedies, the social workers who have to daily cry at the abuse and horrific parenting they have to report about, the teachers who saved their pupils from gunmen? Where are their knighthoods and all the rest? Beckham doesn't deserve a slice of cake let alone a knighthood. What a sham."
"It should go to ordinary everyday people, who work tirelessly raising money for charities and don't get any recognition for it. He's been paid handsomely for kicking a football around for 90minutes," expressed a third.
A fourth posted: "When do people that really do deserve recognition...get the recognition. There are many more well deserved that do great work," while another voiced: "What a waste of a knighthood. Plenty of others should come way before him."
Meanwhile, a hefty 4,980 said the football star does deserve the honour, as one person defended: "Well deserved, does lots for charity and I am sure will use his knighthood for the good of all the charities he is associated with. He was just a normal young lad and he made it in the footballing world, his talent was there for all to see and as for Posh she was just another teenage who made it in the music world and then went on to the fashion world, two ordinary people who have made it big, good on them."
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A second added: "I think he has done more good than bad. He's certainly more deserving than those senior public 'servants' and judges who do more bad than good but receive titles automatically," while a third agreed: "He has done a lot more for this country than most of them who get these knighthoods."
"I am in the camp that thinks Beckham should be knighted. He was special, he has done lots for charity and has been an ambassador for his country. Yes I think he should become a Sir," concluded another.
Becks was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 following his role in securing the London 2012 Olympics - but was blocked by the Honours Committee after he became embroiled in a tax avoidance scheme, which he was cleared of four years ago.
In 2017, shocking emails from Beckham were leaked, revealing his fury at the New Years honours committee and possibly setting him back in his pursuit of a knighthood. The football star is said to have branded the committee "unappreciative c***s" and added that he "didn't care about being knighted" - though the ex-midfielder has claimed some of the leaked emails had been doctored.
The leaked emails claim the former footballer said: "I expected nothing less. It's a disgrace to be honest and if I was American I would of got something like this 10 years ago." He is also reported to have slammed opera star Katherine Jenkins after she was given an OBE. "Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops. F***ing joke."
Beckham was appointed as an ambassador to HM's charity the King's Foundation, which was seen as an encouraging sign earlier last year. He said at the time: "I'm excited to be working with The King's Foundation and to have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity's work.
"I've always been keen to help young people to expand their horizons and I'm particularly looking forward to supporting the Foundation's education programmes and its efforts to ensure young people have greater access to nature." Do you think David Beckham deserves to be knighted? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below and you can still vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
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