There was much to discuss as newly knighted Sir David Beckham was received by King Charles at Windsor Castle on Tuesday morning, but no one expected fashion to be top of the agenda.
The former footballer was made a knight of the British empire for services to sport and charity during Tuesday’s investiture, notably his impact on football over a twenty year period and subsequent ambassadorial role with UNICEF.
However, both played second fiddle to fashion as Charles shared a few words with Sir David, 50, who accepted his knighthood in a three-piece suit tailor-made by his designer wife Victoria Beckham.
And why not, you might ask.
While Sir David is renowned for influence on contemporary menswear, Charles is a regular – if somewhat unexpected – feature on numerous best dressed lists, among them the esteemed fashion monthly, GQ.
And it’s not the first time Britain’s newest knight has turned to some King inspired couture while navigating the potential minefield that is middle-aged fashion.
David Beckham wore a morning suit designed by his wife and inspired by a picture of King Charles wearing an almost identical outfit for his investiture on Tuesday morning
Asked about their brief conversation following the ceremony, the former Manchester United and England legend said: ‘He was quite impressed with my suit.’
Sir David admitted the tweed loving King had served as a somewhat unlikely inspiration for the suit, an elegant grey wool affair replete with single pleated trousers, tailed jacket and distinctive lapel chain.
‘He’s kind of the most elegantly dressed man that I know, so he inspired quite a few of my looks over the years and he definitely inspired this look,’ he explained.
‘It was something that my wife made me. I looked at old pictures of him when he was quite young in morning suits and I was like, OK, that’s what I want to wear, so I gave it to my wife and she did it.’
Indeed, Sir David’s look bore a striking resemblance to the morning suit favoured by Charles during an appearance at an Ascot polo tournament in 1979- right down to the finest details.
The former footballer, who celebrated his milestone 50th birthday in May, previously bore an uncanny resemblance to Charles while posing for a pastoral photo in the sprawling grounds of his Cotswolds estate.
Wearing his beloved Baker Boy cap and dressed in a thick wool sweater and brown corduroys, Sir David looked every inch the lord of the manor while leaning on a shepherd’s crook.
But those with longer memories will recall a cap wearing Charles adopting a strikingly similar pose, complete with a remarkably similar shepherd’s crook, while posing for a photo at a Fernie Hunt cross country team event in 1979.
Sir David, who celebrated his milestone 50th birthday in May, previously bore an uncanny resemblance to Charles while posing for a pastoral photo in the sprawling grounds of his Cotswolds estate
The retired footballer looked sharp in a cream double breasted two-piece at Wimbledon in June (pictured), drawing comparisons with the suit favoured by King Charles as he prepared to board the Royal Yacht in 1989 (pictured)
In 2018 Sir David appeared to mirror the King’s love of classic tweed in this heavy overcoat, worn as he boarded the Paris Eurostar with wife Victoria
Inadvertently or not, the King had his fingerprints all over Sir David’s choice of suit as he attended Wimbledon in June.
Arriving at the AELTC Parkside Suite in south-west London, the fashion conscious star caught the eye in a tasteful cream double breasted two-piece that would absolutely get the royal seal of approval, had Charles been in attendance.
Indeed, the King wore a remarkably similar suit as he prepared to board the Royal yacht while visiting the Western Isles in 1989, when Sir David was just 14 years old.
Even the grungy look favoured by Sir David at the tail-end of the 2010’s appeared to be influenced by the Monarch, notably the tweed winter coat he wore while boarding the Paris Eurostar with Victoria in 2018.
With its wide lapels, deep front pockets and below the knee fit, it conjured images of Charles in an identical coat while on a Royal visit to Carlisle in 1986.
The former footballer was made a knight of the British empire for services to sport and charity during Tuesday’s investiture
(L-R) Ted Beckham, Lady Victoria Beckham, Sir David Beckham and Sandra Beckham in the grounds of Windsor Castle following Tuesday’s ceremony
Speaking on Tuesday, Sir David admitted he has felt emotional about the impending knighthood since he was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours earlier this year.
‘I’ve been very obviously lucky in my career to have won what I’ve won and done what I’ve done but to receive an honour like this, of a knight, is beyond anything that I ever thought that I would receive.
‘To be honest, a young boy from the east end of London, born in Leytonstone, and here at Windsor Castle, being honoured by His Majesty the King – the most important and the most respected institution in the world – it’s quite a moment.
‘This is without doubt my proudest moment.’
