As he receives his long-awaited knighthood, footballing legend Sir David Beckham speaks of his admiration for the King’s sponsorship of traditional country crafts
Growing up in the decidedly urban areas of Leytonstone and Chingford, footballing turned British cultural icon David Beckham has discovered at the age of 50 a taste for the country life.
The Manchester United legend – who will receive his long-awaited knighthood at Windsor Castle today – says a big part of his reinvention came after a visit to His Majesty the King’s country estate at Highgrove. David is set to finally receive his long-awaited knighthood at Windsor Castle today.
But his friendship with the Royal Family has been long-running and recently visited Highgrove to speak to the King and offer him a jar of honey from his own hives. And he was astonished at what he saw.
He told Country Life magazine: “I could hardly believe what I saw when I visited the workshops at Highgrove in Gloucestershire and what the Foundation is doing to bring back all sorts of old-school crafts, from joinery to stone masonry and millinery, using traditional methods such as straw braiding.”
Expressing his own desire for young people to be given the opportunity to get in touch with their roots, he added: “It’s astonishing to know what incredible work The King is doing for our country and future generations.”
David is doing his own part to encourage the next generation of British artisans, commissioning a bespoke suit from Joe Holsgrove, an up-and-coming tailor in his twenties, but his attire for today’s ceremony at Windsor will come from a little closer to home.
His fashion designer wife Victoria has created a unique morning suit, complete with a tailcoat, especially for the occasion.
Despite a career in fashion dating back to 2003, it’s the first time she has ever made David any item of clothing.
“David teases Victoria that she never makes him any clothes,” a friend of the couple told the Mail.
“So when they found out in the spring that David was going to get his big day at Windsor later in the year, Victoria decided that she had enough time to make it happen.
“She has never done anything like this before and she was aware it would be time-consuming but Victoria knew the investiture would be some way off.
“Victoria got to work, designing the three-piece suit and, as she doesn’t do anything by halves, she threw herself into it and made sure it was absolutely perfect.
“The fact that David is wearing a Victoria Beckham outfit will make a special day even more special.”
But for most days, David is happier in his tweeds, pottering around the family’s country home.
He says that the entire Beckham family seems to have found contentment in the countryside.
He recalled: “Romeo came down for the day, and he was sitting on that table between the silver birches facing the lake and he told me: ‘It’s so calm that sometimes I just need to come here to sit.’
“It makes me feel as if I’ve done a good job as a father and that I did the right thing in wanting us to have a house here.”
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