David Beckham posted Instagram posts lavishing praise on the Queen as he tried to win a knighthood.

The former footballer shared a series of messages with his 37.2million followers praising the monarch and plugging his involvement with Buckingham Palace.

In one particularly flattering message, Beckham said of Elizabeth II: 'So proud to have a Queen that does everything for the love of our country.'

It follows the leaking of a string of controversial emails which show Beckham used his charity work in an attempt to become a Sir.

In the haul of hacked messages, Beckham branded the honours committee 'c****' for not giving him a knighthood and criticised singer Katherine Jenkins for being recognised instead.

A source told The Sun: 'It's incredible to see the lengths David and his team went to present him in the right light.'

For the Queen's birthday on June 11, Beckham wrote: 'Happy birthday your Majesty... So proud to have a Queen that does everything for the love of our country.'

And two weeks earlier the former footballer tweeted a photo of him shaking hands with the monarch as part of The Queen's Young Leaders Of 2016.

Beckham said he was 'so proud to support' the initiative, which aims to empower young people in the Commonwealth.

He wrote: 'On a personal note I miss my Nan & Grandad every day and I know how proud they would be of their grandson meeting Her Majesty.'

In a post plugging the event some hours before, he said: 'It's the second year I've been involved in this programme and I'm continually impressed by these inspiring young people who are running amazing projects around the world.'