There’s been plenty said about how David Beckham would like to be ‘Sir David’ one day.

And when it emerged that King Charles wants to meet him to talk about how David might use his vast popularity to help Charles’s charity, The Prince’s Foundation, we heard more of it again.

Perhaps it’s true. But the David I know is driven by genuine affection for the royals – and he is already friendly with a surprising number of them.

He and his family hold strong pride in their support for the monarchy, aligning firmly with the traditions and values it represents.

‘I was at home when I first heard that the Queen had been taken ill,’ Beckham told me recently. ‘Listening to the news and talking to people, you could feel the whole country hold its breath.

‘When the announcement came we all felt like we wanted to get together with family and friends’.

If he was deeply saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth last year, it was his late grandfather, Joe, who taught him to hold the royal family in such high esteem.

(Joe, his mother’s father, is remembered in Beckham’s full name – David Robert Joseph Beckham.)

As a child, the former England captain would see his grandfather put on a suit when there were big royal moments – watch on the television at his East London home.

It was those moments which began the footballing legend’s love affair with the royals.

As his career grew, he got to know Princes William and Harry well and today he counts the future King as a good friend.

One source says: ‘David and William’s friendship has grown and grown over the years, they have worked on some great projects together.’

Beckham and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer close however. ‘He and Harry are no longer friends,’ confirms the source.

Other royal friends also include Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and ex-wife of Prince Andrew. Beckham was introduced to her by David Gardner, his best friend.

He also knows Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, daughters of Fergie and Andrew.

With his friendships and his grandfather’s memory in mind, Beckham felt compelled to dress up and join the queue to pay his respects to the late Queen when she lay in state at Westminster Hall.

The full 13-hour queue that is, not a celebrity short cut.

‘Speaking more of his fondness for the Monarch, who died in September 2022, Beckham said: ‘You could feel the waves of sympathy for the Royal Family from around the world and how loved our Queen was.

‘I thought about my mum and dad and my late grandparents and how they brought us up to respect the Royal family. That was what made me join the queue for the lying in state.

‘I was in that queue a few hours longer than I thought I would be but it was an experience I’ll never forget. I met some great people and we all kept each other going.

‘People from all walks of life there just to show their respect and be part of a moment in history. A long night but I felt lucky to be there.’