David and Victoria Beckham Make Surprise Appearance at Buckingham Palace for State Banquet

David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham stepped out for a special occasion at Buckingham Palace for a state banquet honoring the Amir of Qatar.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the fashion designer, 50, and the former soccer player, 49, were among the esteemed guests present to welcome Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani to the U.K. The celebrity couple’s attendance was not announced up until the event began, according to The Telegraph.

Photos showed David and Victoria holding hands as they arrived.

In addition to the Amir of Qatar, his wife, and their delegation, the prestigious gathering also included King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William. the King, the Queen, and Prince of Wales. David sat next to U.K. opposition leader Kemi Badenoch and Paris St-Germain football club Nasser Al-Khelaifi, per the BBC.

King Charles, 76, welcomed his guests and said the relationship between the U.K. and Qatar was “profound, personal and historic.”

Related: The Beckham Effect: Queen Is All Smiles While Greeting David at Palace Party — See the Photo

He also offered the U.K.’s “deepest gratitude for your tireless mediation efforts over the past year in pursuit of peace, against the most unbearable heartache and suffering,” per The Telegraph.

While David has been present for several previous royal engagements, and was given the title of OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2017, Tuesday marked his first time being invited to a state banquet, per The Telegraph.

Still, the footballer has long-since had ties to the royal family.

This year, the Inter Miami CF and co-owner was named an ambassador for The King’s Foundation, and assisted Prince William in raising funds for the London Air Ambulance.

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David and the former Spice Girl tied the knot in 1999 and are parents to sons Brooklyn Joseph Beckham, 25, Romeo James Beckham, 22, Cruz David Beckham, 19, and daughter Harper Seven Beckham, 13.

During a Nov. 4 appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live!, host Andy Cohen asked guest Brooklyn about his relationship with the royal family after taking a viewer’s question on the show.

"Growing up, which members of the royal family did you see the most often, especially since your family is friends with Harry and Meghan?" Cohen, 56, asked, referring to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

For the Cloud 23 hot sauce founder and CEO, he admitted it was "Probably William."

Related: Victoria Beckham Reveals the Royal Wedding Was 'the Best Day' and Gushes About Meghan's Dress

Cohen further questioned his guest, wanting to know what the heir to the throne, 42, was like in real life.

The oldest of the Beckham kids had nothing but great things to say about the royal.

"He's just like the sweetest guy ever. He really is. He's really down to earth. He's really [a] good guy," Brooklyn told Cohen.

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