Growing up in a working-class family in East London, David Beckham didn't seem like he would one day rub shoulders with royalty.
But the former England captain has somehow become a regular fixture at royal events, often being pictured with the likes of King Charles and Prince William. In fact, he and wife Victoria were guests when William married Kate and just recently the former Manchester United star and King bonded over their love of beekeeping. The footballer's blossoming bond with the royals comes as a gripping new book called The House of Beckham by author Tom Bower is serialised by the Mirror.
David was unveiled last month as an ambassador to the King's Foundation, and sources quoted in the book say the Ambassadorship would give his knighthood credentials a boost. He already has an OBE but a knighthood has so far eluded him. Despite his seemingly close royal connections, there is one member of the Firm, where it seems relations have cooled...
King Charles
As a former Spice Girl, Beckham's wife Victoria had several encounters with the King before he ascended to the throne, including one where he was showered with their kisses. But it seems it's Beckham himself who now shares a closer bond with the monarch. Back in May, it was reported that the two men shared a private meeting despite the King's estranged son Prince Harry being in Britain at the time.
King Charles with David Beckham last month (PA)And earlier this month it was revealed exactly what that meeting was about as the ex-England football captain was named a King's Foundation ambassador. In photographs released to mark the announcement, Beckham was pictured with the King on the doorstep of Highgrove, Charles' Gloucestershire retreat, and shown trying out his carpentry skills with foundation students taking part in woodworking courses at the Snowdon School of Furniture.
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The pair also swapped beekeeping tips as both have hives and Beckham said: "Having developed a love for the countryside I'm also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which is so central to the foundation's work. It was inspiring to hear from the King about the work of His Majesty's foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens – and compare beekeeping tips!"
Earlier this week, the two men caught up again at the inaugural King's Foundation awards at Buckingham Palace - and chatted about football by discussing England's chances in the Euro 2024 championships. Referring to England's friendly loss to Iceland before the tournament, Charles said: "What was all that at Wembley?" Beckham replied: "I don't think we should read much into it." Charles said: "It doesn't really matter, does it? It was a warming-up sort of thing. You don't want to expend it all in one go at the beginning."
Reassuring the King, Beckham said "we'll be ready, Gareth will be ready" to which Charles gave the former footballer a thumbs up.
Prince Harry
However, when it comes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Beckham's friendship seems less cosy. At first, it seemed the Sussexes were on very friendly terms with the Beckhams and they were reportedly eager to make Meghan feel welcome in the UK. In fact, there were reports that Victoria had given Meghan access to her little black book of her favourite hairdressers and stylists in London.
Harry once had a friendship with the former England captain (Getty Images)However, the first sign of tension came shortly after this, when reports about Victoria helping out Meghan were published - leaving the Sussexes upset. According to the Mail On Sunday, Harry confronted David with his suspicions in a phone call that left the ex-Manchester United star "furious".
Afterwards, the couples seemed to put the ordeal behind them with David and Victoria at St George's Chapel in Windsor to see Harry and Meghan get married in May 2018. Victoria wore a chic navy dress and hat while David looked smart in a morning suit. Several months later, the royal couple headed off on a tour of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, which coincided with the 2018 Invictus Games, which were being held in Sydney. Harry and a pregnant Meghan appeared at the opening ceremony of the Games.
Harry is said to have asked David to be an ambassador for the Invictus Games - but things reportedly turned sour when the prince refused to see the former England football captain at the event in Sydney in 2018. It was claimed that the reason Harry was keeping his friend at arms' length was Meghan - as she feared Victoria was leaking stories about her to the press.
Beckham with the Princess of Wales at the Earthshot Prize awards in Boston in 2022
Tom Bower's new book The House of BeckhamMeanwhile, more recently, there have been signs that all has not been right between the Sussexes and the Beckhams. In 2022 when David and Victoria's eldest son Brooklyn married actress Nicola Peltz in a lavish wedding in Florida, Harry and Meghan were nowhere to be seen.
Similarly, last summer when David welcomed football superstar Lionel Messi to his Inter Miami team, a star-studded crowd were in attendance for his debut. Among them included Kim Kardashian, LeBron James and Serena William, a known BFF of Meghan, but again the Sussexes weren't there.
Prince William
So could it be that Harry's cooling of relations with the Beckhams come after David so publicly backed the Duke of Sussex's estranged brother William?
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Like Harry, William has known David and Victoria for many years with the Beckhams being at Westminster Abbey when the now Prince of Wales married Kate Middleton back in 2011. In fact, Kate has worn a Victoria Beckham dress and sunglasses on outings in the past. In 2022, David joined both William and Kate when they travelled to Boston for the Prince of Waleses' second annual Earthshot Prize awards, where he presented one of the prizes at one of William's main projects.
The House of Beckham by Tom Bower is released on June 20 and is available to buy from Amazon.
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