Most of the time, having style icon status just means being the envy of the fashion world, but for the designer and artist formerly known as Posh Spice Victoria Beckham, it earned her a royal title.
On Wednesday, Beckham received her OBE at Buckingham Palace from none other than Prince William for her services to the fashion industry and for her charity work over the course of her nearly two-decade-long career. She was joined by her soccer star husband David Beckham, who received an OBE of his own in 2003, and her parents.
Following the investiture ceremony, Beckham told the BBC, “It was an absolute pleasure to be at Buckingham Palace today. I’m proud to be British, honoured and humbled to receive my OBE from the Duke of Cambridge. If you dream big and work hard you can accomplish great things. I’m so happy to share this very special occasion with my parents and husband; without their love and support, none of this would be possible.”
The occasion even prompted the notoriously solemn designer to crack a rare grin.
The mother of four, who celebrated her 43rd birthday just yesterday, also posted a photo of herself and her new, prestigious accessory to her Instagram account. “Wonderful day celebrating with my beautiful family x #BuckinghamPalace #OBE ?? VB,” she captioned the image.
Beckham officially kicked off her career in fashion with a showing at New York Fashion Week in 2008. Most recently, she released a collection for Target that sold out in just hours, prompting shoppers to clamor for the few items put up for auction on eBay. The former Spice Girl was also named a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador in September 2014.
In a recent interview for Elle UK‘s cover, Beckham revealed that despite her pop-star past, she was always meant to have a future in fashion.
“Being in the Spice Girls was so much fun, but I was never the best singer or dancer. I learned an enormous amount during that time, though: the staging, the lighting, the costumes – the package excited me. But I love fashion — this is what I’m genuinely interested in.… When I look back at my past self, [the way I dressed and behaved] was probably a sign of my insecurities. I feel quite confident in myself now.”
Related: Madonna, Kate Moss Celebrate Edward Enninful’s OBE
A Celebration of Victoria Beckham’s Signature Beauty Through the Years
Beckham wears her brunette pixie with tousled bags and a light contour on the cheekbones with a nude glossy lip at the Spice Girls launch book “Forever Spice” event in London. (1999)
Wearing her hair swept over in voluminous, tousled waves with a nude glossy lip, Beckham attends the Elle Style Awards in London. (2000)
Beckham wears her tousled, highlighted locks in a loose, half up with with luminous skin at the Rock & Republic Spring 2005 fashion show.
Beckham goes blonde with an ultra sleek pixie cut paired with a taupe smoky eye at the Graduate Fashion Week photo call. (2007)
Beckham returns to her brunette locks wearing an asymmetrical bob with a brown smoky eye and a nude glossy lip. (2007)
Wearing her sleek pixie cut with an exaggerated dark smoky eye, Beckham arrives at the 17th Annual Elton John Aids Foundation Party. (2009)
At the British Fashion Awards in 2010, Beckham wears a naturally tousled up do with a taupe smoky eye and a luminous skin.
Victoria Beckham looked sleek with lots of black eyeliner and a teased up do at the British Fashion Awards 2011.
Beckham let pieces loose out of a slightly voluminous pony tail at the Vanity Fair and Chrysler celebration of The Eva Longoria Foundation. (2013)
Attending the 5th Global Gift Gala, Beckham wears her shiny, polished curls side-parted with a dark taupe eyeshadow and a matte nude lip.
Attending the British Fashion Awards in 2015, Beckham wears an elegant up do with loose pieces framing her face, full brows and a grey smoky eye.
Wearing her asymmetrical, long bob in tousled curls with a dark grey smokey eye, the fashion designer attends the launch of “Vogue: Voice Of A Century”book event. (2017)
Jourdan Dunn Thinks Victoria Beckham Is Fashion Royalty:
