David Beckham follows in King Charles’ footsteps as he’s announced as guest editor of Country Life magazine after years of reading ‘every issue from cover to cover’
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It was only last month that David Beckham charmed the King through his love of gardening.
And now he will continue to put his green thumb to use as the former footballer is announced as the latest star to guest edit Country Life Magazine.
The father-of-four, who is tipped for a knighthood in the King’s birthday honours list, is known for being a staunch royalist and has swapped the football pitch for the countryside in recent years.
The one-off edition is said to feature Beckham’s best-loved recipe, as well as his rural champions, and the craftsmen and women who have helped to shape his home in the Cotswolds, together with an insight into how the countryside has come to play an increasingly important role in his life.
King Charles has twice guest-edited Country Life to mark his 65th birthday in November 2013 and his 70th in 2018 when he was the Prince of Wales.
In 2020, the Princess Royal masterminded a special issue to commemorate her 70th birthday, while the Queen, then the Duchess of Cornwall, took the editorial reins in 2022 to mark her 75th birthday – and produced a record-breaking sell-out edition.
David Beckham will continue to put his green thumb to use as the former footballer is announced as the latest star to guest edit Country Life Magazine
The ex-England captain chatted with King Charles at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, with their bond reportedly growing close in recent years through their shared love of gardening
David Beckham said: ‘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.’
David, 50, and Victoria Beckham, 51, bought their £12m Cotswolds mansion in 2016 and he has since developed a love for beekeeping and growing vegetables.
So proud of his work, Mr Beckham even presented the King with a jar of honey he harvested at home when the pair met at the British Fashion Council Foundation Impact Day 2023.
The ex-England captain last month chatted with King Charles at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, with their bond reportedly growing close in recent years through their shared love of gardening.
The 76-year-old monarch was heard congratulating the former England footballer on his landmark celebrations – and asked the star whether he had received their present.
Standing outside the Highgrove stand run by the monarch’s charity, the King’s Foundation, Beckham – who is now an ambassador for the organisation – greeted the sovereign warmly and said: ‘Your Majesty, it’s so nice to see you.’
Astonishingly, Charles then appeared to ask whether he had received the birthday present that he and his wife had sent.
‘You got it, didn’t you?’ he asked.
‘It was incredible,’ beamed Beckham. ‘Thank you, it was very kind.’
The one-off edition is said to feature Beckham’s best-loved recipe, as well as his rural champions, and the craftsmen and women who have helped to shape his Cotswolds home
King Charles has twice guest-edited Country Life to mark his 65th birthday in November 2013 and his 70th in 2018 when he was the Prince of Wales
Camilla then added: ‘Nice to see you again, glad you got the roses.’
Earlier this week it was revealed the former footballer is to be awarded a knighthood on the King’s Birthday Honour’s List after being snubbed for years.
The former Manchester United and England star, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, will be confirmed as a ‘Sir’ when the list is released next week.
Mr Beckham, who played for his country 115 times and was captain of the England football team for six years before he retired from the game in 2013, has long been a fan of Country Life, a fact he lost no time in telling Editor-in-Chief Mark Hedges when they first met nearly two years ago.
Mark Hedges recalled: ‘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.
Editor-in-Chief Mark Hedges recalled: ‘As soon as we were introduced, David told me how much he loves Country Life. He reads every issue from cover to cover (Beckham and Hedges pictured together at last month’s Chelsea Flower Show)
‘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.
‘I know he has a deep love of the countryside, which has grown since he retired as a professional footballer, although he is, of course, still extremely busy as a businessman and an ambassador for a host of causes, such as UNICEF and The King’s Foundation, as well as being co-owner of Inter Miami CF in the US and Salford City Football Club in the UK. As someone who is passionate about the countryside, I’m excited to see what his special commemorative issue will bring.’
