David Beckham is believed to have made the decision not to inform his eldest son Brooklyn about receiving a knighthood from King Charles.
The football legend is set to be named in the monarch’s Birthday Honours list next week, earning him the title of Sir.
The 50-year-old former Manchester United player allegedly received notification of the honour via letter, which requested confidentiality until the official announcement.
Whilst Beckham shared the news with his immediate family, sources claim Brooklyn, 26, was notably excluded from those informed.
The decision not to tell Brooklyn directly appears to stem from a rumoured ongoing rift between father and son, with reports suggesting they haven’t engaged in meaningful conversation for seven months.
A source told The Sun that David “obviously” informed his “immediate family” about the prestigious honour, but deliberately chose not to contact Brooklyn.
“He is still not in contact with Brooklyn and, frankly, it would have been weird for him to reach out and tell him, so he didn’t,” the source explained.
The source described the situation as “so sad” given that family is “everything” to the former England captain.
Brooklyn allegedly discovered his father’s knighthood through media reports rather than a personal notification.
According to The Sun, friends directed him to the outlet’s coverage of the story, marking how he learned about the significant honour.
The source suggested that Brooklyn now has an opportunity to mend their relationship, stating: “It is up to Brooklyn now if he wishes to extend an olive branch and send on his congratulations.”
The honour represents what sources describe as the “ultimate accolade” for the football icon, who previously received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2003.
It follows a long tradition of sporting figures receiving the honour, including Sir Alex Ferguson and the late Sir Bobby Charlton.
David previously expressed his gratitude when receiving his OBE in 2003, saying: “I am honoured and privileged to receive this recognition. It’s not just for me but for Manchester United, England, all of my team mates and my family.”
The source revealed that whilst David would “love” for his entire family to attend the investiture ceremony, it appears increasingly doubtful that a reunion will occur.
“Only time will tell though, but at the moment it is looking unlikely,” they said.
Despite the family tensions, David is determined not to let the situation overshadow his achievement.
The source explained that the former footballer doesn’t want to dwell on the negative aspects of the estrangement.
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“David doesn’t want to focus on that though,” the insider said, adding that he wants to “focus on the positives” and celebrate this latest milestone in his distinguished career.
The source noted that formal celebrations would wait until after the investiture ceremony takes place.