David Beckham Sits in Royal Box at Wimbledon a Day after Princess Kate Made an Appearance

Former British football player David Beckham and his mother Sandra Beckham sit in the royal box in Center Court during the women's singles tennis match between Russia's Daria Kasatkina and Britain's Jodie Burrage on the third day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 5, 2023. (AFP)
Former British football player David Beckham and his mother Sandra Beckham sit in the royal box in Center Court during the women's singles tennis match between Russia's Daria Kasatkina and Britain's Jodie Burrage on the third day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 5, 2023. (AFP)
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David Beckham Sits in Royal Box at Wimbledon a Day after Princess Kate Made an Appearance

Former British football player David Beckham and his mother Sandra Beckham sit in the royal box in Center Court during the women's singles tennis match between Russia's Daria Kasatkina and Britain's Jodie Burrage on the third day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 5, 2023. (AFP)
Former British football player David Beckham and his mother Sandra Beckham sit in the royal box in Center Court during the women's singles tennis match between Russia's Daria Kasatkina and Britain's Jodie Burrage on the third day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 5, 2023. (AFP)

Football royalty made its way into the Royal Box at Wimbledon on Wednesday when David Beckham took his place on Centre Court.

Beckham, one of the most famous players in football history for both his ability on the field and his persona off it, attended Day 3 of the grass-court tournament a day after Kate, the Princess of Wales, was in the stands.

Beckham, sitting with his mother, has been a regular over the years at the All England Club.

On the soccer field, Beckham became a superstar while playing for Manchester United and helping the team win the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup in 1999. That feat was matched by rival Manchester City this season.

Beckham also played for England's national soccer team, but World Cup success eluded him despite some deep runs in the tournament.

Beckham is married to the former Victoria Adams, also known as Posh Spice of the British pop group the Spice Girls.

British adventurer Bear Grylls was also in the Royal Box on Wednesday.



EU Countries Take 1st Step to Weaken Protected Status of Wolves

A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa
A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa
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EU Countries Take 1st Step to Weaken Protected Status of Wolves

A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa
A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa

Safeguards to protect wolves in the European Union could be weakened in future after member states agreed on Wednesday on the first steps towards easing these measures.

Weakening the protection of wolves aims to facilitate the culling of those deemed a threat to livestock.

Until now, wolves have been highly protected in Europe. In some regions, however, people question whether the status quo is still justified as the number of wolves is growing, dpa reported.

The wolf's protection in the EU is tied to the 1979 Bern Convention, the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.

EU ambassadors in Brussels agreed to propose a change to the body in charge of the wildlife protection treaty, EU diplomats told dpa.

Amending the Bern Convention is a first step which could pave the way for the European Commission to propose EU legislation to change the protected status of the wolf at a later stage.

The wolf's comeback in Europe is highly controversial.

Currently, wolves receive strict protection status under EU law with provisions allowing for local authorities to take action, including shooting wolves in case of conflicts with rural communities and farmers.

While some EU countries, including Germany and France, are in favor of easier culling, nature conservation groups campaign for different approaches, like better herd surveillance, night confinement and more guard dogs.

Having been extinct in large parts of Europe until the 1960s, there are currently around 19,000 wolves in the EU, according to conservationists.