MORE than 4,300 people nominated for gongs in the past five years have had questions raised over their tax affairs.

Checks are carried out to ensure the Queen does not end up embarrassed by who she honours.

High-profile names highlighted have included David Beckham.

Those flagged by the taxman are given high, medium or low ratings.

Since 2013, 47 nominees were put in the first bracket, suspected of “serious areas of non-compliance”.

Another 120 were put in the second group as they may be currently involved in avoidance schemes.

The rest are “low” — indicating “minor issues” have been found and that their behaviour is not seen as likely to cause “adverse public comment”.

The details emerged after leaked e-mails indicated ex- England skipper Beckham’s knighthood was blocked four years ago over such a “flag”.

Becks, 43, had invested in film schemes run by Ingenious Media, later alleged to be a tax avoidance strategy. He angrily insisted that “everything is and was above board” — and called the nomination committee “a bunch of c***s”.

There is no suggestion of legal wrong-doing on his part.

Last night an official confirmed: “We try to minimise the risk that prospective candidates have behaved in ways likely to bring the system into disrepute.”