David Beckham admitted his mum Sandra ‘burst into tears’ when he was named a King’s Foundation ambassador.

The former footballer, 49, who has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for 20 years, received the Crystal Award for his ongoing commitment to improving the living conditions of young children.

Speaking on stage at the 55th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Monday, he recalled first becoming involved in the King’s charity.

David said: ‘When the King asked me to be part of his foundation, I was very honoured. I rang my mum straight away.’

He admitted that she ‘burst into tears’ after hearing the news and went on to praise the King.

‘I’ve always been a huge royalist, I was brought up in a family that adored and loved everything with the Royal Family.’

+6
View gallery

David Beckham admitted his mum Sandra ‘burst into tears’ when he was named a King’s Foundation ambassador

+6
View gallery

The former footballer, 49, who has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for 20 years, received the Crystal Award for his commitment to improving the living conditions of young children (pictured with his mum Sandra and dad Ted in October 2023)

David continued: ‘Our King is an incredible man. He has not just been incredible for the last five, 10 years, he’s been an incredible man for decades.

‘We have very similar interests, beekeeping. He’s into bees, I’m into bees. He’s into the countryside, I’m into the countryside. He’s into empowering young people, so I’m very honoured.’

David looked typically dapper in a striped blue shirt and knitted tie, which he wore with a charcoal double breasted suit and smart dress shoes at the event.

The World Economic Forum annual meeting brings together entrepreneurs, scientists, and corporate and political leaders.

While accepting his award, David made a passionate speech about girls’ rights as he took to the stage at the ceremony.

He spoke about ‘the ‘sad truth’ of girls being ‘held back’ by discrimination and said he wanted his own daughter Harper, 13, to have the opportunities as her brothers.

UNICEF ambassador David, who also shares sons Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 22, and 19-year-old Cruz, with wife Victoria, was being honoured at the event for his humanitarian work.

He said: ‘I’ve always believed in the potential of children, and that when children are given time, opportunity and encouragement they will reach their full potential’.

+6
View gallery

Speaking on stage at the 55th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Monday, he recalled first becoming involved in the King’s charity

+6
View gallery

David said: ‘When the King asked me to be part of his foundation, I was very honoured. I rang my mum straight away’. He admitted that she ‘burst into tears’ after hearing the news

+6
View gallery

David continued: ‘Our King is an incredible man. He has not just been incredible for the last five, 10 years, he’s been an incredible man for decades’ (pictured together in June 2024)

‘Growing up, I benefited from that support from family, from coaches and from teachers’.

David then went on to urge his fellow attendees to do more for girls’ rights around the world: ‘Girls are held back by poverty, girls are held back by violence, girls are held back by discrimination’.

After David revealed his hopes for Harper he added: ‘[Girls] need opportunities. They need collective action and they need investment’.

Before presenting him with his trophy, The World Economic Forum’s chair person Hilde Schwab gushed over his: ‘extraordinary leadership and humanitarianism in promoting and protecting the rights of the world’s most vulnerable children’.