David Beckham follows in the footsteps of King Charles and Princess Anne

While everyone else has been talking about whether he’s got an appointment at the Palace for a knighthood, David Beckham has been quietly establishing a different link with the Royal Family. For it’s just been revealed that he’s going to follow where King Charles has led before.

King Charles has done this twice

Country Life magazine has announced that David Beckham will be guest editor for an upcoming edition, taking on a role that The King and Queen have both held before him.

David Beckham will take charge of the ‘Best of Britain’ edition, due out on October 22, and has promised to reveal his own rural champions as well as spotlight the craftspeople who have helped him shape his home in the Cotswolds.

For those who have always wanted to bake it like Beckham, the former England captain will also be sharing a favourite recipe.

The King has guest edited Country Life several times, including special editions for his 65th and 70th birthdays. He’s not the only royal guest editor. In 2022, Queen Camilla guest edited to mark her 75th birthday with a special cover photo taken of her by the Princess of Wales. The Princess Royal acted as guest editor in 2020 when she turned 70.

This special edition marks David Beckham’s 50th birthday and the 1,000th edition overseen by Editor-in-Chief, Mark Hedges, who said ”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’s been a great companion to him as he’s developed his own life in the countryside.  ”

Becks is ‘honoured’ as he follows royal path

David Beckham said he was delighted to be in charge of such a special edition, adding ”I am honoured to have been invited to guest edit an edition of a magazine that I have always admired and read. I am really looking forward to working with the editorial team to produce an issue that will celebrate what the countryside and the great British landscape means to me and my family.”

One famous feature of the magazine is its frontspiece, which profiles different women with links to the countryside. It’s not yet known whether Victoria Beckham will take pride of place in this celebrated spot which is known by its nickname of ‘Girls in Pearls’.

And it’s not yet clear how the guest editor’s name will appear when the magazines hits shops on October 22. For if other reports mentioning the football legend and The King in the same sentence are accurate, it may well be the editor is then known as Sir David Beckham.