David Beckham said he rang his mother Sandra West "straight away" after being named a King's Foundation ambassador.
The ex-England footballer was honoured with a Crystal Award at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland on Monday, for his "extraordinary leadership and humanitarianism" in protecting "the rights of the most vulnerable children".
Beckham, who has been a Unicef goodwill ambassador for nearly two decades, discussed the honour in the Swiss Alps town of Davos on Tuesday - where he was asked about becoming an ambassador to the King's charity last year.
He said he "always gets emotional talking about anything with our Royal Family", before explaining why they are so special to him.
Beckham added: "I've always been a huge royalist, I was brought up in a family and household that adored and loved everything with the royal family."
He also said he "has always been involved" whenever the Prince of Wales has asked, including promoting air ambulance charities.
He added: "When the King asked me to part of his foundation, I was very honoured, very privileged, I rang my mum straight away."
Beckham also said his mother "burst into tears" when she found out.
"Our King is an incredible man, he has not just been incredible for the last five, 10 years, he's been an incredible man for decades," he added.
"We have very similar interests, beekeeping ... he's into bees, I'm into bees, he's into the countryside, I'm into the countryside, he's into empowering young people so I'm very honoured with that role."
Elsewhere, he was quizzed about how he instils the same values he grew up with in his children, given his children's privileged upbringing.
He said "you'll never see my sons walk into a room, and not let a lady go first", or "shake people's hand".
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Beckham, 49, added he has tried to "pass on old traditions" to his children, including "when my wife leaves the table, I stand up".
"I do get strange looks at times from people," he also said. "It is old school, but you know, it's how I was brought up, I've tried to pass it on to my kids, my kids do it... they don't always do it."
David and Victoria married in 1999 and are parents to three sons - Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, and daughter, Harper, 13.
The former Man United star also said that he has "never met a harder-working woman" than fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria, who he convinced to undertake the four-part Netflix series Beckham together.
Victoria will be in an upcoming Netflix documentary about her fashion brand.
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