You knighted?

DAVID Beckham could finally be knighted after growing close to the King in recent months.

- RUSSELL MYERS

Speculation is mounting that the England and Manchester United legend could appear on the New Year Honours list for his global charity work.

Beckham and fashion designer wife Victoria were surprise guests at a state banquet on Tuesday night in honour of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad AI Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher.

Beckham, 49, was described in royal circles as "the perfect guest", owing to his role as an ambassador for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He was reportedly paid £10million a year for three years to promote the Middle East Country with an option to extend - but was criticised for signing the deal over the country's strict laws banning homosexuality.

The former England captain who earned 115 caps-had previously been widely tipped for promotion after getting an OBE in the late Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to football in June 2003.

But an earlier tirade in which he branded the Honours Committee which rejected him for a knighthood "unappreciative c***S", plus allegations of tax avoidance when he played in Spain, seemed to have torpedoed his hopes of becoming a Sir.