Did Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunter Soundtrack Really Score David Beckham’s Knighthood?
A royal ceremony with a K-pop twist: as King Charles III knighted David Beckham at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, a string quartet struck up Golden from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunter, honoring the 50-year-old icon’s contributions to sport and charity.
Even by royal-ceremony standards, this was a curveball: David Beckham got knighted at Windsor Castle while a string quartet played Golden from the KPop Demon Hunter soundtrack. Yes, the Netflix animated movie. No, you did not hallucinate that.
What went down at Windsor
Beckham, 50, was officially knighted by King Charles III on Tuesday for his contributions to sport and charity. The investiture at Windsor Castle had a family front row: Victoria Beckham was there, along with Beckham's parents, Ted Beckham and Sandra West.
Instead of the usual classical pieces you expect in that setting, the quartet kicked off with Golden. Weird? A little. Intentional? Almost certainly. The pick feels like a cheeky nod to Beckham's long-running nickname 'Goldenballs,' which Victoria coined back in 2008.
And this is not the song's first brush with royal pomp. The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment performed Golden at an event in September at Buckingham Palace. So apparently our new national pastime is giving chart hits a ceremonial brass-and-strings makeover.
Why Golden, and why that movie?
KPop Demon Hunter, the Netflix animated film that dropped in June, has been an international hit. Golden ties into the movie's magical setup, where three women literally use their voices to form a barrier that keeps demons at bay. The song and its parent album have blown up globally, topping charts including Spotify, the Billboard Hot 100, and the UK Top 40 (per the Daily Mail).
Beckham on the moment
After the ceremony, Beckham said he was honored and, honestly, pretty emotional all week. He admitted he cried when he first found out he was getting the knighthood and that being back in London made the build-up hit even harder. Not stressful, not nerve-wracking — just a lot to take in for him and the family.
'It is a huge honor to be here in Windsor Castle and to receive this from His Majesty the King. It is a very special day for us.'
He also joked that he is not demanding anyone call him 'Sir David.' If his kids want to try out 'Sir Dad' or even 'Sir Son,' that is up to them, but it is going to take a minute to get used to hearing it. He praised the royal family, called himself a huge royalist, and said the chance to be knighted by King Charles is the kind of thing he never could have dreamed of.
A few extra touches
Victoria Beckham quietly stole a bit of the spotlight herself: she designed the tailored morning suit David wore — the first time she has ever made an outfit specifically for him.
And for anyone keeping score on the sports side: before all the formal titles, he was just Beckham-the-footballer, the one who defined eras at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and LA Galaxy.
Golden at a knighthood ceremony is the sort of oddball detail I live for — slightly ridiculous, perfectly British, and a winking tribute baked right into the playlist. Your move, every other string quartet on the circuit.
KPop Demon Hunter is streaming on Netflix in the US.