David Beckham is to be awarded a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honour's List after being snubbed for years. The former Manchester United and England star, who recently celebrated his milestone 50th birthday, will be confirmed as a 'Sir' when the list is released next week, according to The Sun. His wife and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham will be known as Lady Beckham. The tattooed ex-England captain last month chatted with King Charles at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, with their bond reportedly growing close in recent years through their shared love of gardening. The 76-year-old monarch was heard congratulating the former England footballer on his landmark celebrations – and asked the star whether he had received their present. Standing outside the Highgrove stand run by the monarch's charity, the King's Foundation, Beckham – who is now an ambassador for the organisation – greeted the sovereign warmly and said: 'Your Majesty, it's so nice to see you.' Astonishingly, Charles then appeared to ask whether he had received the birthday present that he and his wife had sent. 'You got it, didn't you?' he asked. 'It was incredible,' beamed Beckham. 'Thank you, it was very kind.' Camilla added: 'Nice to see you again, glad you got the roses.' Beckham, an avid royalist since he was a schoolboy in Chingford, has long craved for a knighthood and it appeared to be within his grasp having received an OBE from the late Queen in 2003. While his appointment as an ambassador to HM's charity the King's Foundation was deemed an encouraging sign earlier last year, but his complicated tax affairs had once been viewed as a possible barrier. And in February 2017, there was a slew of leaked emails showing the former footballer had appeared to unleash a barrage of expletives criticising the honours committee that had once again left him off the list for a coveted gong. There was also an alleged 2013 leaked email, when, bitter not to be knighted, he complained about Katherine Jenkins, fuming 'Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops. Plus taking coke. F****** joke.' Sir Rod Stewart joked last summer that Beckham's knighthood was 'coming soon'. The rock star, 80, received his own knighthood in 2016 and made the quip as he appeared at the inaugural King's Foundation awards ceremony in London alongside his wife Penny Lancaster. During his short speech, he proclaimed that the footballing legend would soon receive the same honour he did almost a decade ago. Speaking in a video posted to X, he said: 'Penny and I are so honoured to be ambassadors for the King's trust. 'I'm also wonderfully honoured to be a knight. David, yours is coming soon'. Beckham will join a finite list of sports stars, including the likes of the late Sir Bobby Charlton and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. This is a breaking news story. More to follow.