Inside Charles and David Beckham’s secret Highgrove meeting as King battles cancer

Former England star David Beckham has become an ambassador for the King’s Foundation, King Charles’ charity which supports people to make the most of their community

Candid photographs capture the heartwarming moment King Charles bonded with David Beckham at Highgrove Estate – and the monarch made the former footballer ambassador for his charity.

Despite battling cancer, King Charles, 75, took the time to host the former England captain and give him a tour around the sprawling home and 15-acre gardens in Gloucestershire last month. The pair shared beekeeping tips as Beckham, 49, developed an interest in the quirky pastime during the Covid lockdown.

And charming pictures, released this week, show Beckham laughing and smiling with an equally relaxed and cheerful King. It has now emerged the jovial meeting was one of Charles’s first duties back at work after his cancer diagnosis. However, it happened around the time Prince Harry was on a brief visit to the UK – as part of his Invictus Games tour – but was unable to meet his father.

Nevertheless, the monarch highlighted the importance of the tete-a-tete with Becks, who played for his country for 13 years, as he made him ambassador for the King’s Foundation. The charity, established in 1986 when Charles was Prince of Wales, is run from Dumfries House in Scotland. It aims to support “sustainable communities” and spearheads education courses for young people, often with a focus on rural skills.

Beckham, who is the first ambassador to be named by the charity since Charles was crowned, said: “I’m excited to be working with the King’s Foundation and to have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity’s work. I’ve always been keen to help young people to expand their horizons and I’m particularly looking forward to supporting the foundation’s education programmes and its efforts to ensure young people have greater access to nature.

Charming photographs of the meeting show the friends laughing and joking ( 
Image:
PA)
The former Manchester United star has in the past expressed his desire to receive a knighthood. He was snubbed in December, despite playing 115 times for England and scoring 17 goals, winning 19 major trophies in his career, and since doing charity work.

But the charity appointment is a boost for the sports star, born in Leytonstone, east London, and sources believe King Charles values his friendship and input to the foundation highly. Last year, Beckham gave Charles a jar of his homemade honey – and the King, who has kept beehives at his royal estates, joked at the time: “We shall have to do a swap.”

Speaking about his new role, father-of-four Beckham said: “It was inspiring to hear from the King about His Majesty’s foundation during my visit to Highgrove Gardens and compare beekeeping tips.

“Having developed a love for the countryside, I’m also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which are so central to the foundation’s work.”

Becks, 49, will promote awareness of the charity by supporting campaigns and attending events ( 

The former England captain met pupils studying woodwork, furniture-making and embroidery ( 
Image:
PA)
DON’T MISSBecks will promote awareness of the charity by supporting campaigns and attending events, including the upcoming King’s Foundation Awards. He will also likely share updates about the foundation’s work to his 87.8 million Instagram followers.

The King’s Foundation, renamed to reflect Charles’s accession, is reshaping its image after its former chief executive, the King’s long-time aide Michael Fawcett, was forced to step down over a scandal involving donations from a foreign tycoon.

Highgrove is a treasured personal home for the King, but is also the base for educational workshops funded by the charity ( 
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PA)
Two staff members were questioned by police after the mainstream media exposed the scandal, but last year the investigation was closed with no charges brought.

During his Highgrove visit, the football star, who received the OBE in 2003, was also introduced to students at Highgrove, whose tuition fees and materials are covered by foundation scholarships.

David Beckham has been hailed as one of the best free-kick takers of all time ( 
Image:
Daily Mirror)
He met pupils studying woodwork, furniture-making and embroidery, the latter funded by the King’s Foundation in partnership with Chanel, whose students are taught traditional hand-sewing techniques that are highly coveted by haute couture designers.

Since retiring from football in May 2013 after a 20-year career, Beckham launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund. He has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2005 when he played for Real Madrid.

Victoria Beckham and David Beckham married on July 4, 1999 in Ireland ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The midfielder played more than 250 times for Man United ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
His footballer career saw Beckham score 97 goals in domestic matches across 21 years, including 62 for Manchester United and 18 for LA Galaxy in the US. The midfielder was hailed as one of the best free-kick takers of all time, and received praise for his excellent crossing and passing abilities.

Beckham married Victoria Adams, nicknamed Posh Spice, in 1999 and they have four children, including Brooklyn and Romeo. As of May 2019, the couple’s joint wealth is estimated at £355 million. She too has joined her husband in charity and business ventures over the years.