David Beckham will support Charles III in his dissemination of rural areas as the new ambassador of the king’s foundation

Former British footballer David Beckham adds a new title: he has been named ambassador of the foundation of King Charles III this Sunday, June 2, 2024 by the monarch himself. The charity The King’s Foundation, established in 1986 by Charles of England while he was still Prince of Wales, is intended to support traditional crafts and the rural world. The appointment has been announced on the charity’s websiteto, weeks after Beckham met the king privately to learn more about his new role as British head of state. “I am excited to be working with The King’s Foundation and having the opportunity to help raise awareness of the work of this charity,” reveals in a message posted on his social networks the former Real Madrid player. “I have always wanted to support young people to broaden their horizons and I am particularly keen to support the foundation’s educational programs and its efforts to ensure that young people have greater access to the rural world.” By accepting this role, Beckham will work to support a range of causes including education, sport and health in rural areas of the UK.

Along with the announcement, a series of photographs have been released in which Beckham and Charles III are seen in the gardens of Highgrove House, the monarch’s country residence in the county of Gloucestershire, in the west of England. “As someone who grew up in London, but who has developed a love for the countryside, I hope to support the foundation’s educational programs and strive to ensure that young people have a greater understanding of nature,” adds the businessman today in his broadcast message. On Instagram, where he accumulates 87.8 million followers. The King’s Foundation offers workshops, programs and short courses focusing on craft and rural skills. “It was inspiring to hear the King speak about the work of His Majesty’s Foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens,” he noted.

David Beckham is the first ambassador appointed by the charity since Charles was crowned in May 2023, and his appointment increases speculation for some that the former footballer’s dream of being knighted could become a reality. as the British tabloid points out Daily Mail. Already in 2003, he received the medal of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Elizabeth II. The good relationship between the monarch and the former captain of the English team is well known. Last year it was demonstrated when both he and his wife, Victoria Beckham, were invited to Charles’ coronation. On the occasion of the coronation, the Beckhams gave the new monarch a jar of honey from their own bees (a hobby that David Beckham showed in his Netflix documentary series). The king, who had beehives in his royal gardens, then joked: “We’ll have to make a trade.” The former footballer is a regular at banquets and royal events. In addition, they are practically neighbors, since the couple has a property a few kilometers from Highgrove House. Specifically, in the Cotswolds.

The meeting between the two took place shortly after the monarch resumed his public agenda after his absence of almost three months due to his treatment for the cancer he is suffering from, and many media outlets suggest that the main topic of the visit was beekeeping: “ “It was inspiring to hear the king talk about the foundation and compare beekeeping tips!” Additionally, internal sources revealed to Daily Mail that the king and Beckham “had a great time” during the visit and the former footballer left “excited and inspired.” With his role as ambassador, he will have to promote awareness of the foundation, supporting campaigns and attending events; including upcoming The King’s Foundation Awards.

With this new appointment, the King Charles III Foundation is trying to reshape its corporate image after its former executive director – also a former assistant to the monarch – Michael Fawcett, was forced to resign over a scandal involving donations from a foreign tycoon. . The scandal was published by the British media The Mail on Sunday, whose investigation was definitively closed last 2023 without charges being filed against the organization.