David Beckham Says He’s a ‘Huge Royalist,’ Talks Ties to King Charles and Prince William
David Beckham is proud to be a friend of the British royal family.
On Jan. 21, the former England soccer captain spoke about his relationships with King Charles and Prince William in a new interview at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Beckham, 49, hit the stage with CNBC anchor Sara Eisen for a wide-ranging conversation on his work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and philanthropic commitments, which sparked the topic of his royal connections.
“I always get emotional talking about anything that I do with our royal family, because I’ve always been a huge royalist. I was brought up in a household that adored and loved everything that came with the royal family,” Beckham said after Eisen asked him about his role with The King’s Foundation. (Beckham was announced as an ambassador of King Charles’ charity dedicated to sustainability and the next generation in June 2024.)
“Over the years, I’ve done a lot with the Prince of Wales,” he continued, referring to Prince William. “I’ve always been there, when he’s asked me to get involved with things. Whether it be veterans, whether it be the London Air Ambulance Service, which we raised funds to get two new helicopters for London. These are the things, when I was a kid, I used to see the helicopters going over, and you knew exactly what they were going to do. They were on their way to an emergency. So to be involved in that, has always been a ‘Yes’ for me.”
“Whenever the Prince of Wales sends me a message and says, ‘I need you to do this’ or ‘Be there’, it’s always a ‘Yes,’ ” Beckham said. (Beckham helped William in the fundraising effort for the London Air Ambulance’s “Up Against Time” campaign, which brought in over $21 million to fund two new H135 helicopters for the emergency service in 2024.)
The Inter Miami FC co-owner said he was “honored” when King Charles asked him to get involved with his foundation and that his mother, Sandra West, “burst into tears” when he relayed the news.
“Because she’s so proud of obviously what I’ve done throughout my career, but she’s also proud. And she knows my grandparents would have been proud that I have played such an important role within the royal family and the charities that they have,” Beckham said.
