David Beckham declared himself 'immensely proud' today as he finally got a knighthood after years of being snubbed.
Sir David said he 'never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour', as his Spice Girl wife Victoria also becomes Lady Beckham.
The former England football captain previously missed out when a 'red flag' from the taxman blocked him becoming a Sir in 2014.
Leaked emails suggested he had savaged the nominations committee as 'unappreciative c***s' and branded their decision 'a disgrace, to be honest', although his office subsequently insisted they had been doctored by a hacker.
But that was all behind him today as Sir David proudly led the King's Birthday Honours list recognising 1,200 people from community champions to cultural icons.
Also knighted are actor Gary Oldman and The Who singer Roger Daltrey, while Damehoods go to actress and singer Elaine Paige, pottery designer Emma Bridgewater, and novelist Pat Barker.
Strictly Come Dancing presenting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have been made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), while there also honours for teenage darts star Luke Littler and his rival Luke Humphries as both are made MBEs.
The day before Sir David was given the honour, he was seen chatting with the King at a St James's Palace ceremony for the monarch's foundation, of which the retired footballer is an ambassador. He has been made a knight for his services to sport and to charity.
Sir David Beckham at the palace the day before news of his knighthood was confirmed. He said: 'I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour'
The King shakes hands with David Beckham next to Penny Lancaster and Meryl Streep
David Beckham wearing a David Austin Roses 'King's Rose' speaks with King Charles at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May
He said: '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.
'To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true.'
He said that, off the pitch, his charity work 'gives me so much fulfilment', and added: 'It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I'm immensely proud and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.'
He has been made a knight for his services to sport and to charity, having partnered with Unicef and campaigned with Malaria No More, a charity working to eradicate the disease.
Sir David was made an OBE in 2003 and has been in the running for a knighthood for more than a decade.
Acting legend Gary Oldman is made a Sir, a year after telling of his dismay at being overlooked.
Sir Gary Oldman, recognised at last, having been the only British actor this century to have won an Oscar but not given a knighthood
Elaine Paige attending the 1917 World Premiere at Leicester Square, London. Elaine Paige has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the King's Birthday Honours list, for services to music and to charity
Queen Camilla, President of Women of the World Festival, speaking to Elaine Paige during a reception to mark International Women's Day at Buckingham Palace
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who have been made MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King's Birthday Honours list, for services to broadcasting
The tattooed ex-England star with his wife Victoria - now Lady Beckham - at a recent dinner in celebration of Slow Food at King Charles's Gloucestershire estate
Sir Gary, 67, was the only British actor this century to be snubbed after winning an Oscar, which he clinched for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 2017 film Darkest Hour.
He was also Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black in the movie franchise, and won a Bafta last year for playing hygiene-averse MI5 boss Jackson Lamb in the TV series Slow Horses, and said last year he 'didn't know why' he had been missed out.
Dame Elaine Paige, 77, star of West End musicals including Cats, Chess and Evita, said she was in 'complete disbelief' at her honour, for her services to charity and music.
He was also Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black in the movie franchise, and won a Bafta last year for playing hygiene-averse MI5 boss Jackson Lamb in the TV series Slow Horses, and said last year he 'didn't know why' he had been missed out.
The star said: 'I've got all these different emotions coming at me all at once. I'm proud and I feel grateful and I'm thrilled and surprised, and so it's been quite a lot to take in.'
Meanwhile Tess Daly, 56, who has co-presented Strictly since 2004, and Claudia Winkleman, 53, who also fronts the hit TV gameshow The Traitors, were both 'delighted' by their MBEs. 'This genuinely came as the greatest surprise of my life,' said Daly.
Sir Roger, 81, who co-founded The Who in 1964, has been recognised for services to charity and music, having been a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000. He said: 'It's an experience that I've never had before - I'm very humbled by it.'
Author Pat Barker, known for The Regeneration Trilogy, thought the letter announcing her damehood was an income tax bill and that HMRC were 'really angry'. The 82-year-old said: 'I had to read the first paragraph several times before it sank in.'
Stars of the big and small screen who have been recognised include EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, Academy Award-nominated actress Samantha Morton and Georgia Harrison, a Love Island contestant turned privacy campaigner who won plaudits for waiving her right to anonymity to campaign following the conviction of her former partner Celebrity Big Brother winner Stephen Bear, who shared a private film of them having sex.
The top gong goes to Sir Antony Gormley, the sculptor behind the Angel of the North, who is made Companion of Honour for services to art.
There are only 65 Companions of Honour at any one time.
The Who singer Roger Daltrey, patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust, who has been made a Knight Bachelor in the King's Birthday Honours list, for services to charity and to music
Emma Bridgewater showing her new teapot range to the then Duchess of Cambridge at the Norfolk Showground in Norwich. Emma Bridgewater, founder of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the King's Birthday Honours list, for services to ceramics
Author Pat Barker who has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the King's Birthday Honours list, for services to literature
Luke Littler who has been made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King's Birthday Honours list, for services to darts
Former Love Islands contestant turned campaigner Georgia Harrison who has been made an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list, for services to tackling online privacy and cyber crime
Sir Antony Gormley who has been made a Companion of Honour in the King's Birthday Honours list, for services to art
Angel of the North in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, by sculptor Sir Antony Gormley who has been made a Companion of Honour. There are only ever 65 Companions of Honour
Welsh former professional rugby league footballer Billy Boston is made a Sir, as is Rufus Norris, former director of the National Theatre, while former Wimbledon tennis champion Virginia Wade is honoured with an OBE.
The youngest recipient - 11-year-old Carmela Chillery-Watson – and the eldest, 106-year-old William Irwin, both said they 'never thought anything like this would happen' to them. Carmela, who has congenital muscular dystrophy, has been made an MBE for her fundraising work, while Mr Irwin, who served in north Africa during the Second World War, gets a BEM for founding the Coleraine Winemakers Club in Northern Ireland.
11-year-old Carmela Chillery-Watson, from Dorset, who has LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, and has been made an MBE for her fundraising work
Carmela is believed to be the youngest ever recipient of an MBE
William Irwin, 106, the eldest recipient of an honour in the King's Birthday Honours, pictured during his time in service. He fought in north Africa during the Second World War
Mr Irwin with his medals. After the war, he formed the Coleraine Winemakers Club, recalling initially using nettles and dandelions, as well as becoming one of the founders of the Northern Ireland town's Rotary Club and the Agivey Anglers Association
A paramedic, Paul Smith, who treated victims of the Southport knife attack prioritising the injured over his own safety, is honoured with a British Empire Medal. Also given BEMs are Martin Johnson, Elizabeth Parsons and Dr George Bramham who also treated the young victims.
The mother of teenager Harry Dunn, killed in Northamptonshire outside an RAF base by American Anne Sacoolas driving on the wrong side of the road who fled to the US citing diplomatic immunity, gets an MBE for her campaign for justice.
Charlotte Charles, 50, said: 'I just always wanted to make sure his death led to change, and if it means that a few more lives are saved, and that the roads in and around our bases in the UK are safer, then I'm thrilled to accept the award on behalf of him. My love for him has got me through all of the fights that we've had.'
'Bridge Too Far' veteran given MBE salutes fallen heroes
Scene from the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far
Geoffrey Roberts, who turns 100 in two weeks and who fought in the Battle of Arnhem, gets an MBE. His daughter Claire Welburn said: 'His first words actually were, 'I'm not very happy about that'. It's taken him a while to come to terms with it, because he always says, 'I didn't do anything…the heroes are the ones lying in the cemetery'.
'I keep saying to him, 'it's not about what you did in the war, dad, it's about what you've done since, it's about your act of remembrance'.'
Ms Welburn said she was 'immensely proud' of her father, from Peterborough, who has been committed to 'keeping the story (of the Battle of Arnhem) alive'. Mr Roberts, who was born in the Chelsea Barracks in London, flew into the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden in 1944 - depicted in the Hollywood film A Bridge Too Far.
