After 70 years on the British throne, at noon this Thursday, September 8 Queen Elizabeth II died at the Scottish castle of Balmoral. Throughout her mandate, the Queen decorated or appointed several athletes as Knights of the Order of the British Empire, below, we will mention the most outstanding.
Also read: Queen Elizabeth II and her legacy in football
The seven-time Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton was decorated by the monarch Elizabeth II in December 2020. Another of those who was knighted was the former Olympic athlete Mo Farrah, a specialist in long-distance running or long-distance running. The athlete of Somali origin was distinguished in 2017.
🚨🚨Sir Lewis Hamilton being crowned King of England after the death of Queen Elizabeth II 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/Gl9JXqcRFm
— TheDariusð (@TheDarius03) September 8, 2022
The Scottish tennis player, Andy Murray, is another of the distinguished athletes appointed as Knights of the Order of the British Empire. Murray managed to hang two gold medals at the olympics (2012 and 2016) and was decorated by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017.
Didn’t you hear? 😱
Tennis player Andy Murray was knighted by Prince Charles two years after he received the honor from Queen Elizabeth II. 🔠pic.twitter.com/pTjd0NLwpE
— Capital 21 (@Capital_21) May 18, 2019
One of the most emblematic cases is that of the former Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson or better known to all as Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot, he was in charge of the “Red Devils” for more than 20 years, leading them to win the Champions League on 2 occasions. Ferguson made the honor roll in 1999.
After this tremendous achievement, he would obtain the highest recognition that a British man can receive, being made a Knight of the British Order by Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace, from that day on he has been known as Sir Alex Ferguson.#MUFC #GGMU pic.twitter.com/tNaGJ7OOsv
— Imperio_United (@ImperioUnited) June 15, 2020
But the most special case without a doubt is that of the former captain of the English team and Real Madrid playerManchester United, AC Milan and PSG, David Beckham, who was decorated at Buckingham Palace with the Order of the British Empire, an award given to him by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003.