Volunteers overlooked as Palace prepares to recognise former football star
King Charles’s reported decision to honour David Beckham has triggered fresh debate over the fairness of Britain’s honours system, as the monarch’s Birthday Honours list approaches.
The former England football captain, 50, who received an OBE in 2003, has long awaited a knighthood. Though many believe the recognition is overdue — for his international football career, charity work, and current role as ambassador for the King’s Foundation — some see the move as highlighting deeper flaws in the system.
Writing in The Telegraph, editor Catherine Pepinster called the honours process “truly broken,” lamenting that many deserving volunteers are consistently overlooked.
"Volunteers on whom Britain relies receive the lowlier gongs, if any mention at all," she noted. "They may not seek such honours, but greater recognition would help — particularly at a time when volunteering is in decline."
Beckham was first nominated for a knighthood in 2011, but the process stalled amid tax allegations. In 2017, leaked emails appeared to show him criticising the honours system — though his spokesperson later insisted the messages were “hacked,” “doctored” and “private.”
Pepinster argued that honours should prioritise service over status or wealth. "The system must honour those who contribute out of a sense of service, not for financial gain," she warned. "It must be reformed before our society loses something profound."
