NEED TO KNOW<\/p>\n
David Beckham<\/a> is sending birthday wishes to his friend Prince William<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n On Saturday, June 21, the retired English soccer player shared a pair of throwback photos on his Instagram Stories in honor of the Prince of Wales’ 43rd birthday.\n<\/p>\n “Happy Birthday Prince William x,” David wrote<\/a> over a 2010 image of himself and William in Johannesburg, South Africa.\n<\/p>\n David, 50, followed up the post with another “happy birthday”<\/a> message, a red heart emoji and a fitting sticker of a British flag \u2014 all of which he paired with a photo of himself and William shaking hands at the EE BAFTA Film Awards in February 2024.\n<\/p>\n David’s well-wishes for his friend come just days after the athlete was\u00a0named for knighthood<\/a>\u00a0by Prince William’s father,\u00a0King Charles<\/a>, on June 13.\n<\/p>\n David Beckham wishes Prince William a happy birthday on June 21, 2025.<\/p>\n Last week, King Charles announced that David would be recognized for his career in sports and his lasting contributions to British society during an official investiture ceremony at a later date.\n<\/p>\n The honor arrives 22 years after David was appointed an Order of the British Empire<\/a>\u00a0(OBE) by Queen Elizabeth<\/a> in 2003 and a year after David was asked to be an\u00a0ambassador<\/a>\u00a0for the King\u2019s Foundation in 2024.\n<\/p>\n Following the announcement, David shared a snap from a lunch<\/a> with his mother, who joined him at Tony’s Pie and Mash in London during what he called their first meeting “since the news” on June 16.\n<\/p>\n “Mum cried when she arrived, cried during lunch and cried when I was leaving x special moment for us all \u2764\ufe0f,” David wrote alongside an Instagram selfie.\n<\/p>\n David’s wife, Victoria Beckham<\/a> \u2014 with whom he shares sons Brooklyn<\/a>, 26,\u00a0Romeo<\/a>, 22, Cruz<\/a>, 20 and daughter\u00a0Harper<\/a>, 13 \u2014 wrote in an Instagram tribute following the news that David has “always been my knight in shining armor.”\n<\/p>\n Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter<\/a> to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n “I couldn\u2019t be prouder of you. Your dedication to the things that matter most \u2014 your country, your work, your passion, and most of all, your family \u2014 has never wavered,” she wrote. “The way you\u2019ve touched so many lives over the years with kindness and humility speaks volumes about the man you are and continues to inspire us every day.”\n<\/p>\n “But above all else, I\u2019m so, so proud to call you mine,” Victoria added. “I love you so much xxxx.”\n<\/p>\n Prince William (left) and David Beckham in Johannesburg, South Africa, in June 2010.<\/p>\n Owen Humphreys – WPA Pool\/Getty<\/p>\n David wasn’t the only one to help ring in Prince William’s 43rd birthday this weekend. On Saturday, Kate Middleton<\/a> shared a message on\u00a0Instagram<\/a> alongside a photo of her husband surrounded by their puppies. She signed the note on behalf of herself and their children,\u00a0Prince George<\/a>, 11,\u00a0Princess Charlotte<\/a>, 10, and\u00a0Prince Louis<\/a>, 7.\n<\/p>\n “Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies! \ud83d\udc3e” the Princess of Wales, 43, captioned the photo.\n<\/p>\n King Charles\u00a0also shared a birthday tribute to his elder son via the royal family’s Instagram Stories<\/a>. “Happy birthday to the Prince of Wales!” he captioned an image of William sitting in a field.<\/p>\n