David Beckham’s tribute to Prince William after knighthood

Prince William’s 43rd birthday has been met with much celebration, with the royal family’s most famous pal weighing in with a heartfelt tribute.

The newly-knighted Sir David Beckham expressed his gratitude for the royal family with a sweet tribute to his friend.

Watch the video above

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The former footballer took to Instagram to post throwback pictures with William.

The first showed the pair mid laugh at the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa with the caption, “Happy Birthday Prince William x.”

But one wasn’t enough, with the entrepreneur adding another picture to his stories – this time sharing a more recent one from the BAFTA Awards in 2024.

On top of the image of the pair shaking hands, Beckham wrote, “Happy Birthday”, accompanied by a red heart emoji and a British flag on top.

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The football legend wasn’t the only one to pay tribute, with William’s own family sharing some touching words.

Catherine, Princess of Wales took a casual birthday portrait of the father-of-three at their home in Windsor earlier this month.

Three of the family’s four new additions can be seen in the picture, with William cuddling their family dog Orla’s new puppies.

The black cocker spaniel gave birth to the pups last month, to the excitement of the Wales family.

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”Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!,” the caption on social media said, using initials for Catherine, and their three kids – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The now-43-year-old was seen sitting with his legs stretched out in the grass as he plays with the dogs, wearing blue jeans and a casual green shirt for the off-duty look.

Dad King Charles III’s social media accounts also shared a birthday message for his son and heir.

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“Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!” the caption said.

The more traditional portrait appeared to be taken by a professional photographer, though no credit was provided.

Along with opting for a more official caption, using William’s title rather than his name, the photo chosen shows the royal in a shirt and trousers for a more formal look.

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