King's Birthday Honours List 2025: David Beckham Knighted, Luke Littler Awarded MBE

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The 2025 King's Birthday Honours have been officially announced, celebrating exceptional individuals whose achievements have made a profound impact on British society.

Among the most prominent honourees are football icon David Beckham, who receives a knighthood, and darts prodigy Luke Littler, awarded an MBE for his remarkable sporting accomplishments.

David Beckham, one of England's most celebrated footballers, has been conferred a knighthood in the 2025 honours list. Beckham's distinguished career includes 115 international caps for England and a pivotal role in Manchester United's historic 1999 treble-winning campaign.

Beyond his sporting achievements, Beckham's extensive charitable work -- most notably as a UNICEF ambassador since 2005 and more recently with the King's Foundation -- has cemented his reputation as a global humanitarian.

Beckham has described this recognition as both humbling and a source of immense pride, reflecting on his roots in East London and his enduring commitment to public service.

At just 18 years of age, Luke Littler has been awarded an MBE, becoming one of the youngest recipients of this honour. Littler's meteoric rise in the world of professional darts, culminating in his historic victory at the PDC World Darts Championship, has captured the imagination of sports fans nationwide. This honour acknowledges not only his extraordinary talent but also his role as an inspiration to young athletes across the United Kingdom.

The 2025 honours list also recognises a host of other distinguished figures from the worlds of sport and entertainment:

The list also includes rugby league legend Sir Billy Boston, recently knighted, alongside honourees from science, the arts, and public service.

The King's Birthday Honours are conferred following recommendations from the Prime Minister, senior government officials, and the general public. The system is structured as follows: