Prince William Claims Dad King Charles III ‘Hates’ Soccer
Prince William is a proud supporter of England’s Aston Villa soccer club – but it’s hardly hereditary.
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“My father hates football,” William, 44, claimed on the Friday, July 3, episode of the “New Heights” podcast, referring to dad King Charles. “My family haven’t got a particularly long history with football, [though] there are a few of us who support teams. My football love came from friends taking me to my first match.”
He continued, “At school growing up, you can’t avoid the football chat. It’s everywhere, and some … some childhood friends of mine took me to my first game.”
William’s school peers brought him to an Aston Villa game, soon sparking a lifelong interest in cheering for the team. As William’s Aston Villa support spanned years, the Prince of Wales ultimately introduced his kids to the team and sport in itself. (William and wife Princess Kate Middleton share sons Prince George, 12,and Prince Louis, 8, as well as daughter Princess Charlotte, 11.)
“It’s that camaraderie, that relationship-building [and] learning to lose, which I think we’ve got to concentrate more on nowadays. I think people don’t know how to lose well,” William previously told cousin-in-law Mike Tindall on a September 2023 episode of his “The Good, The Bad & The Rugby” podcast. “Talking about our children in particular, I want to make sure they understand that. It’s really important from a young age to understand how to lose and why we lose and then to grow from it through that process.”
William, who also noted that it was important to show his kids “how to win well” without boasting or seeming arrogant, also supports the young royals’ other passions. In June 2024, William even took George and Charlotte to see Kelce’s fiancée, Taylor Swift, on her Eras Tour stop in London.
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“That was honestly one of the coolest moments ever was meeting you and the little ones that day,” Travis told William on Friday’s episode, noting he still jokes with brother Jason Kelce “all the time” about the royal encounter. “We were so nervous to meet you guys and the royal family, and Jason has this running joke where he didn’t know what to do with his beer.”
As for William, Jason, 38, recalled the prince acting “fantastic” during the meet-and-greet.
“You want to be respectful and know what the protocols are, but it was awesome,” Jason gushed. “[Meeting] Princess Charlotte was still the highlight for me. I have four daughters, so I mean, she was great.”
William quickly offered Jason his “congratulations” for having four daughters with wife Kylie Kelce.
“Congratulations on having four daughters. I don’t know how you do that,” William joked.
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This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 2:41 PM.
