Arise, Sir David! Beckham finally receives his knighthood for services to sport and charity as former footballer arrives at Windsor Castle with wife Victoria and his parents

Twenty-five trophies, 115 England caps, five international tournaments and countless priceless goals. 

As achievements go it doesn't get much better, but on Tuesday morning David Beckham received the one medal that famously eluded him during a trophy-laden 21-year career and beyond. 

Dressed in a suit tailor made for the occasion by his fashion designer wife, the former footballer was welcomed by King Charles while receiving his knighthood for services to sport and charity. 

To think it all began in a humble back garden in Leytonstone, when playing for Manchester United was still a dream and the infant Beckham was painstakingly perfecting his now legendary set pieces under the watchful eye of dad Ted. 

He would sign for the Premier League giants as a teenage trainee in 1993, a move that would serve as the catalyst for consistent success - both on and off the pitch.

To date, the former Manchester United and England legend remains the only British footballer to win league titles in four different countries, starting with six Premier League titles in England. 

With Sir Alex Ferguson as manager he would also lift the FA Cup twice and serve be a key component in the club's legendary treble winning season, culminating in a last gasp Champions League defeat of Bayern Munich in 1999.   

He would go on to sign for Real Madrid in 2003, joining Brazilian striker Ronaldo and French midfielder Zinedine Zidane as the latest in a long line of Galácticos to represent the legendary Spanish club. 

But he would play through a barren spell for Los Blancos before finally winning his only La Liga title with the club in 2007, shortly before leaving European football for a new challenge in the United States. 

There, he would become an ambassador for the sport through his endeavours with Los Angeles Galaxy, guiding the Western Conference club to a remarkable ten trophies. 

With retirement looming, Sir David's indian summer would come in France, with Paris Saint Germain signing the footballer on a short term contract that would see him end his career with a Ligue 1 title in 2013. 

An England legend, he represented his country 115 times - 58 as captain - after making his debut for the former Three Lions manager Glenn Hoddle against Moldova in 1996. 

But like so many before him a trophy would elude the footballer as he played for five consecutive full time England managers across five consecutive tournaments, including three World Cups. 

There would be plenty of highs though - notably the incredible last minute goal against Greece that secured England their place at the 2002 World Cup finals.   

Away from the pitch, his marriage to fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham in 1999 cemented a celebrity status which went far beyond his sporting exploits. 

Ahead of Tuesday's ceremony, the Daily Mail revealed that the fashion designer made the suit ho he wore while being honoured for his services to sport and charity.

The secret project began in June when the couple learned that the former Manchester United star would be knighted in the King's Birthday Honours.

'David teases Victoria that she never makes him any clothes,' a friend of the couple told the Daily 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,' a source explained.

'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.'

Alongside his football career, he has supported a number of charity causes, including serving as a goodwill ambassador for humanitarian aid organisation Unicef since 2005.

Last year, Sir David, who has described himself as a “huge royalist”, was named an ambassador for the King’s Foundation, an educational charity established by the King in 1990.

'I've always been a huge royalist, I was brought up in a family and household that adored and loved everything with the royal family,' he told Town & Country in January. 

'When the King asked me to part of his foundation, I was very honored, very privileged, I rang my mum straight away.' 

The former footballer also admitted his wife burst into tears after discovering he had been approached by the King. 

'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,' he explained.  

'Our King is an incredible man, he has not just been incredible for the last five, 10 years, he's been an incredible man for decades. 

'We have very similar interests, beekeeping … he's into bees, I'm into bees, he's into the countryside, I'm into the countryside, he's into empowering young people so I'm very honored with that role.' 

Sir David is also known for his stylish clothing choices, and in 1998 was named most stylish man of the year by GQ magazine and he has modelled for the likes of H&M, Armani and Boss.

Also among the personalities honoured on Tuesday were Nobel Prize-winning novelist Sir Kazuo Ishiguro and West End performer Dame Elaine Paige.

Sir Kazuo was made a Companion of Honour for services to literature.

The Order of the Companions of Honour was founded in 1917 by George V and is limited to 65 members at any one time. Appointments go to those who have made a long-standing contribution to arts, science, medicine or government.

The Japanese-born author, 70, who moved to the UK as a child, is known for 2005’s Never Let Me Go and 1989’s The Remains Of The Day, for which he won the Man Booker Prize.

The Remains Of The Day was his third novel and was adapted into a film starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Dame Emma Thompson, which earned them both Academy Award nominations, and the 1993 adaptation a total of eight Oscar nods.

Sir Kazuo is also a film writer and wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for the 2022 film Living, about a civil servant, played by Bill Nighy, who embraces life after he finds out he is dying.

Dame Elaine, given a damehood for services to music and charity, was born Elaine Bickerstaff in north London 1948 and became an overnight star with her portrayal of Eva Peron in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical Evita.

After the show debuted in 1978, the 77-year-old, who had been nominated alongside her co-star David Essex, won the Olivier Award for performance of the year in a musical.

She has had starring roles in Cats, Chess, Piaf, and Sunset Boulevard – and has more recently starred in pantomimes at The London Palladium.

Across her career, she has recorded more than 20 solo albums and has had one chart-topping single with I Know Him So Well featuring Barbara Dickson.

She has also won a number of accolades including the Gold Badge of Merit from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) in 1993.

Outside of her work, she has supported a number of charities including The Children’s Trust, the Royal Voluntary Service and Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, which she has been president of since 2010.