Beckham, Oldman knighted
Beckham has long been in the list to receive knighthood. Oldman's films have earned over USD 11 billion. PHOTO: File
Former England football captain and global fashion icon David Beckham was knighted on Friday for his services to sport and charity, with The Who singer Roger Daltrey and actor Gary Oldman also receiving the honour, as reported by AFP.
Beckham, who played 115 times for England as well as for some of the world's most high-profile clubs including Manchester United and Real Madrid, will now be known as 'sir' and his wife Victoria, a former member of the Spice Girls pop group, will be known as Lady Beckham.
The 50-year-old, who has long been in the running for a knighthood, was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2003 – a lesser award in Britain's honours system.
Victoria later received the same award for services to the fashion industry.
"Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour," Beckham said in a statement issued to the Press Association.
"I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment," he added.
Daltrey, who co-founded The Who in 1964, will also take the title of sir having been recognised for his services to charity and music in King Charles III's Birthday Honours list.
The 81-year-old singer has been a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000, holding fundraising concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall for more than two decades.
Daltrey 'dream'
"It's kind of weird, but I am deeply honoured to get this, especially for the charity for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and I accept it on their behalf really, because this honour is really for all unsung heroes," the My Generation singer told the Press Association.
"It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much," he added.
Oldman, who won a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in 2017's Darkest Hour, also received a knighthood for his services to drama.
The 67-year-old's films have earned over $11 billion, and his credits include the Harry Potter series, The Dark Knight Trilogy and Air Force One, along with cameo appearances in sitcom Friends and music videos for David Bowie and Guns N' Roses.
Stage star Elaine Page, who played Eva Peron in the first production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita, and novelist Pat Barker have both been made dames.
Barker is known for her World War I Regeneration Trilogy, the first book of which was turned into a Hollywood film starring Jonathan Pryce.
Brand Beckham
Beckham's knighthood is the culmination of years of tireless efforts to transcend football and turn himself into a global icon at the intersection of sport, fashion and business.
The honour, one of the highest bestowed by the UK state, "is a powerful symbolic marker", Marie Agnes Parmentier, professor of marketing at the University of Montreal and author of several papers on Posh and Becks, explained to AFP.
Even at the height of his football career, Beckham was building his global brand with thought to his retirement.
His appearance in a sarong, revelations that he used make-up and his eccentric hairstyles were all feverishly gobbled up by the UK's tabloid press.
He also had to overcome the tag as England's 'most-hated man' after being sent off during the 1998 World Cup in a knockout game against Argentina.
Beckham is understood to have been on the verge of receiving a knighthood after helping London win its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
But UK authorities placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme, according to previous reports. He was subsequently cleared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Ju Haknyeon disputes exit from THE BOYZ, says he never agreed to contract termination, agency responds
Ju Haknyeon has strongly denied claims that he has left K-pop group THE BOYZ, stating he never agreed to the termination of his exclusive contract. His agency, ONE HUNDRED, has now issued a formal response rejecting his accusations and defending its actions. Earlier this week, after news broke that he been kicked out of the group following a prostitution scandal with former Japanese adult actress Kirara Asuka, Ju Haknyeon addressed fans on Instagram, stating: 'I have never left the team and have never agreed to the termination of my exclusive contract.' He also challenged the media and his agency to present any proof of illegal activity following reports linking him to a meeting with th AV actress. Ju alleged the agency demanded ₩200 million KRW (around $145,000 USD) in compensation and pressured him to leave. 'I want to hold accountable the agency that unfairly kicked me out and insisted on terminating my contract without any basis,' he wrote. On June 20, ONE HUNDRED responded with a statement: 'We deeply regret the one-sided false claims made by Ju Haknyeon.' The agency explained the decision followed concerns that the situation would damage group promotions. They cited Article 6, Section 3 of his contract, stating the termination was due to 'acts that damage the dignity of the artist to the extent that cause interference with activities.' ONE HUNDRED said it considered the termination 'legitimate and reasonable' and warned: 'If he continues these claims, we will respond with strong legal actions.' The agency added that THE BOYZ will continue activities as scheduled, excluding Ju Haknyeon, and no further comments on the matter would be made.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Midjourney AI: Midjourney launches first AI video tool to animate images
Midjourney has launched its first public video generation tool, allowing users to create animated clips from still images. The new feature, announced on Midjourney's website, enables the generation of five-second videos from either uploaded images or those created within the Midjourney platform. Once an image is selected, an 'animate' button appears, offering a standard motion option or a manual setting for customising movement. The animation can be extended in four-second increments, with a maximum length of 21 seconds. Motion settings allow users to determine whether the subject, the camera, or both are animated. The feature is currently limited to subscribers, with plans starting at $10 (USD) per month. Introducing our V1 Video Model. It's fun, easy, and beautiful. Available at 10$/month, it's the first video model for *everyone* and it's available now. — Midjourney (@midjourney) June 18, 2025 Midjourney says the cost of video generation is approximately eight times higher than that of image rendering, equating to roughly one image's worth of cost per second of video. The launch comes amid an ongoing copyright lawsuit filed by Disney and Universal. The two entertainment companies argue that Midjourney's training process may have included unauthorised use of copyrighted works. Legal filings specifically flagged the video tool as a concern, with plaintiffs describing the company's output as a 'virtual vending machine' for unlicensed content. Midjourney founder David Holz described the release as 'a stepping stone' in the company's development of real-time, open-world simulation models. The startup is one of several firms racing to develop AI-powered video tools, with competitors such as Google, OpenAI, and Meta also releasing systems that generate video content from text prompts. Social media users have been sharing their first reactions, including early videos, with many hailing it as a 'game-changer'. Midjourney Video is on another level. — AI Breakfast (@AiBreakfast) June 19, 2025 Created with Midjourney + Recraft + Figma in just under one hour. Get psyched. — DANN© (@DannPetty) June 19, 2025 How well does Midjourney Video handle complex environments? It's (almost) flawless: — Alex Patrascu (@maxescu) June 19, 2025 While Midjourney's current offering focuses on animating static images, the company has indicated that expanded capabilities will be introduced in future updates.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Rod Stewart criticizes Israel's Gaza offensive and ends friendship with Trump over Israel arms support
In a recent interview with Radio Times, British music icon Rod Stewart condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military actions in Gaza, stating that they amount to efforts to 'annihilate' the Palestinian people. 'What Netanyahu is doing to the Palestinians is exactly what happened to the Jews,' Stewart said. 'It's annihilation, and that's all he wants to do — get rid of them all. I don't know how they sleep at night.' His comments come amid heightened international scrutiny of Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip, as well as continued debate surrounding arms sales and foreign policy in the United States. Stewart's remarks also signal a rupture in his longtime friendship with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The 80-year-old singer explained that Trump's unwavering support for Israel has caused a personal rift. 'No, I can't anymore,' Stewart said of maintaining their relationship. 'As long as he's selling arms to the Israelis — and he still is. How's that war ever gonna stop?' Stewart and Trump had been neighbors for years in Palm Beach, Florida, frequently attending social events together. 'We're both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties,' Stewart recalled. 'He's always been a bit of a man's man. I liked him for that. But he didn't, as far as I'm concerned, treat women very well… Since he became president, he became another guy. Somebody I didn't know.' As political tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, Stewart's remarks add a high-profile celebrity voice to the growing global debate over the humanitarian cost of the conflict and U.S. policy in the region.
