David Beckham had the honour of meeting the late Queen on a number of occasions – but he was completely starstruck when they first crossed paths, leading to an awkward moment

The majority of people were left completely star-struck when they met the late Queen – and David Beckham was no exception.

Despite being one of the most famous footballers in the world, David admitted he found himself lost for words when he first met the monarch. He later recalled their initial meeting, which took place back in 2002.

David, an ardent royalist, opened up about the experience during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, during which he and his wife Victoria hosted a lunch to celebrate people who have made incredible contributions to their communities.

He shared that the Queen had asked after Victoria and the couple’s children – at the time they shared just Brooklyn and Romeo. “I couldn’t even answer,” David then confessed. “It was an incredible moment.”

David Beckham pictured with the late Queen in 2002 ( 
Image:
Press Association)

David received his OBE this following year, in 2003 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

The former footballer still managed to make a good impression, however. The following year, he received his OBE for services to football.

David certainly held great affection for the Queen. Following the sad news of her death in September 2002, he took to Instagram with a touching tribute.

“I’m truly saddened by the death of Her Majesty, The Queen,” he wrote. “What an outpouring of love and respect we saw for the Platinum Jubilee for her life of service.

“How devastated we all feel today shows what she has meant to people in this country and around the world. How much she inspired us with her leadership. How she comforted us when times were tough. Until her last days she served her country with dignity and grace. This year she would have known how loved she was. My thoughts and prayers are with our Royal Family.”

David also famously queued for some 13 hours to pay his respects to the late monarch as she lay in state in Westminster Hall – and was seen wiping tears from his eyes as he viewed her coffin.

While speaking to ITV News in the queue, David revealed that he had joined the long line at 2am. “I thought by coming at 2am it was going to be a little quieter. I was wrong,” he said.

It came as MPs and other celebrities, including This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, came under fire for “jumping the queue” when they paid their respects via a press gallery for a separate viewing.

Asked why he had decided to come along, the star explained: “I grew up in a household of royalists and I was brought up that way, so if my grandparents would have been here today, I know that they would have wanted to be here.

“I’m here on their behalf and on the behalf of my family and obviously to celebrate with everybody else here,” he added. “It’s a sad day but it’s a day for us to remember the incredible legacy she’s left.”