SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Prince & Princess of Wales

Prince William reveals that Prince George isn’t a fan of football just yet

The Duke of Cambridge revealed that toddler Prince George is not a footballer just yet when chatting with members of the England women’s football team at Kensington Palace.

“I said do his kids play,” said Casey Stoney, an England player, in an interview with The Mirror.

“He said at the moment he’s trying to teach George that football is actually a contact sport, but George doesn’t really like it when he’s palming him off and getting physical.”

Prince William met with the England women’s football team at a reception at Kensington Palace ahead of the Euro 2017 Championships, which starts next week in the Netherlands.

“He said he’s really encouraging his kids to get involved with sport,” Stoney said, “From what he was saying he’s encouraging both his kids to play.”

@KensingtonRoyal/Twitter

Prince William then joined the team outside at Perks Field, with members of St Mary of the Angels School joined in. The Prince kicked the football around a bit and even scored on Jill Scott.

“He scored, so I’m a bit gutted, to be honest. I was getting competitive. He was good. He was actually good,” Scott said afterwards.

Scott later scored on Prince William, but the Prince wanted to see if he could get a penalty kick in past her, which he did.

The team could not resist asking about Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and their father revealed that they were “making a ruckus in the garden.”

“He said if we get to the [Euro 2017 Championship] final he’ll try to get out,” said Karen Bardsley, who also revealed the whereabouts of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The England women’s football team will play their first match against Scotland when they head out to the tournament next week.

Prince William told Steph Houghton, team captain, “I’m sure you’re going to nail it. I’ll do my best to get out there to the final.”

About author

Jess Ilse is the Assistant Editor at Royal Central. She specialises in the British, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Royal Families and has been following royalty since Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. Jess has provided commentary for media outlets in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Jess works in communications and her debut novel THE MAJESTIC SISTERS will publish in Fall 2024.