Football icon embraces royal tradition as he prepares to guest-edit Country Life magazine
David Beckham has made a heartfelt gesture towards King Charles, just months after receiving a knighthood from the monarch.
The legendary footballer, expected to be honoured this week for his sporting career and charitable contributions, has vowed to follow in the King's footsteps—this time, not on the pitch, but on the page.
Beckham will guest-edit the 22 October edition of Country Life magazine to mark his 50th birthday, joining an exclusive group of royal guest editors. His move mirrors contributions by King Charles, who edited special editions of the publication in 2013 and 2018, the Princess Royal in 2020, and Queen Camilla, who produced a record-breaking issue in 2022.
The announcement signals Beckham's evolution from global sports icon to countryside enthusiast. Since retiring from professional football in 2013, the father-of-four has embraced rural life with growing passion.
The upcoming special edition will be produced in collaboration with Editor-in-Chief Mark Hedges, who will mark his own milestone—his 1,000th issue at the magazine's helm.
Recalling their first meeting two years ago, Hedges shared: "As soon as we were introduced, David told me how much he loves Country Life. He reads every issue from cover to cover and it has been a great companion as he has developed his own life in the countryside."
"I'm absolutely delighted that David has agreed to guest edit the magazine, especially as it will be my 1,000th issue since I became Editor," Hedges added.
