David Beckham Honors Prince William on His 43rd Birthday After Being Named for Knighthood

David Beckham is sending birthday wishes to his friend Prince William.

On Saturday, June 21, the retired English soccer player shared a pair of throwback photos on his Instagram Stories in honor of the Prince of Wales’ 43rd birthday.

“Happy Birthday Prince William x,” David wrote over a 2010 image of himself and William in Johannesburg, South Africa.

David, 50, followed up the post with another “happy birthday” message, a red heart emoji and a fitting sticker of a British flag — all of which he paired with a photo of himself and William shaking hands at the EE BAFTA Film Awards in February 2024.

David’s well-wishes for his friend come just days after the athlete was named for knighthood by Prince William’s father, King Charles, on June 13.

Last week, King Charles announced that David would be recognized for his career in sports and his lasting contributions to British society during an official investiture ceremony at a later date.

The honor arrives 22 years after David was appointed an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth in 2003 and a year after David was asked to be an ambassador for the King’s Foundation in 2024.

Following the announcement, David shared a snap from a lunch with his mother, who joined him at Tony’s Pie and Mash in London during what he called their first meeting “since the news” on June 16.

“Mum cried when she arrived, cried during lunch and cried when I was leaving x special moment for us all ❤️,” David wrote alongside an Instagram selfie.

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David’s wife, Victoria Beckham — with whom he shares sons Brooklyn, 26, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20 and daughter Harper, 13 — wrote in an Instagram tribute following the news that David has “always been my knight in shining armor.”

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“I couldn’t be prouder of you. Your dedication to the things that matter most — your country, your work, your passion, and most of all, your family — has never wavered,” she wrote. “The way you’ve touched so many lives over the years with kindness and humility speaks volumes about the man you are and continues to inspire us every day.”

“But above all else, I’m so, so proud to call you mine,” Victoria added. “I love you so much xxxx.”

David wasn’t the only one to help ring in Prince William’s 43rd birthday this weekend. On Saturday, Kate Middleton shared a message on Instagram alongside a photo of her husband surrounded by their puppies. She signed the note on behalf of herself and their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

“Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies! 🐾” the Princess of Wales, 43, captioned the photo.

King Charles also shared a birthday tribute to his elder son via the royal family’s Instagram Stories. “Happy birthday to the Prince of Wales!” he captioned an image of William sitting in a field.

Source People.com