King Charles inspired the suit David Beckham wore to receive his knighthood, the former England captain has said as he described accepting the honour as the “proudest moment” of his career.

The player, 50, was recognised for his services to sport and charity in a ceremony at Windsor Castle. He wore a grey suit made by his wife, Victoria, Lady Beckham, who accompanied him to the event.

Asked whether he managed to speak to the king during the ceremony, Beckham said: “He was quite impressed with my suit. He’s kind of the most elegantly dressed man that I know, so he inspired quite a few of my looks over the years and he definitely inspired this look. It was something that my wife made me. I looked at old pictures of him when he was quite young in morning suits and I was like, OK, that’s what I want to wear, so I gave it to my wife and she did it.”

David Beckham, with his wife, Victoria, after receiving his knighthood at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle David Beckham, with his wife, Victoria, after receiving his knighthood at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

He said he has felt emotional over the knighthood since he was recognised in the king’s birthday honours earlier this year. “I’ve been very obviously lucky in my career to have won what I’ve won and done what I’ve done but to receive an honour like this, of a knight, is beyond anything that I ever thought that I would receive,” said Beckham.

“To be honest, a young boy from the East End of London, born in Leytonstone, and here at Windsor Castle, being honoured by his majesty the king – the most important and the most respected institution in the world – it’s quite a moment. This is without doubt my proudest moment.”

David Beckham, with his wife, Victoria, and parents Ted and Sandra Beckham David Beckham, with his wife, Victoria, and parents Ted and Sandra Beckham. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

He added that it was a “huge honour” to be recognised for his sporting career and for the philanthropic work he has done since he was “probably 17”. Speaking about his drive, Beckham said he realised early on that people listen to him and that that was a “powerful tool” in the world of charity.

“I think mostly it’s because of the career that I’ve had and the teams that I’ve played for and the things that I’ve won and the respect that I’ve gained throughout my career, and I think that that is why people listen to me,” he said. “And I think it’s a very powerful tool to have in charity. I just found very quickly that we could make change with things that I said and things that I got involved in and I think that’s why it’s so important to me.”

Alongside his football career, he has supported a number of charity causes, including serving as a goodwill ambassador for humanitarian aid organisation Unicef since 2005. “All the things that I do, I do out of love,” he said. “I don’t do it because I’m forced to do it, I don’t do it because I have to do it, I do it because it’s important.”