Prince William Reveals King Charles Hates Football on New Heights Podcast Appearance

William said, 'Absolutely no, my father hates football,' revealing King Charles's alleged dislike of football during his New Heights appearance.
William described himself as an Aston Villa and England national team fan, noting his football love came from friends taking him to his first match and recalling a memory of Gareth Southgate reminding him of that first game (Aston Villa vs Bolton).
The teaser confirmed the full New Heights episode would drop at 12 p.m. ET on Friday, July 3.
William's cameo occurred during a Swift-Kelce wedding weekend in New York, with Madison Square Garden events and a reported rehearsal dinner drawing media attention the night before.
Prior reporting indicated that Catherine, Princess of Wales, was not expected to attend Swift and Kelce's nuptials.
Prince William dropped a bombshell on American sports fans this week: his father, King Charles, hates football. William made the confession during a guest appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce's New Heights podcast, telling the brothers, 'Absolutely no, my father hates football,' according to The Mirror.
The episode dropped at 12 p.m. ET on Friday, July 3 — right in the middle of the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding weekend in New York. The timing made it one of the most-talked-about podcast moments of the year, per Gridiron Heroics.
William did not hold back when the Kelce brothers asked about the royal family's love of the game. He flatly said his father wants nothing to do with football. The quote spread fast across social media. It was a rare and candid moment from the future King of England, according to The Mirror.
The revelation surprised many. King Charles is often seen as a formal, tradition-bound monarch. Hearing that he dislikes England's most popular sport gave fans a peek behind the palace curtain. AOL noted the moment may have sparked some controversy given how central football is to British life.
While his father skips the match, William is a devoted football fan. He told the Kelce brothers he supports Aston Villa and the England national team. His love of the game started when friends took him to his very first live match — Aston Villa vs. Bolton — as a young man, per The Mirror.
William also shared a personal memory about England manager Gareth Southgate. He said Southgate once reminded him of that first Villa game, making the story feel full circle. The detail showed William is not just a casual fan — he tracks the sport closely and knows its history personally.
William's New Heights appearance was no accident in timing. The episode landed during a massive celebrity weekend in New York. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were getting married, with Madison Square Garden events and a reported rehearsal dinner drawing huge media attention the night before, according to She Knows.
The podcast teaser introduced William with a lengthy roll call of his royal titles, including his role as president of the English Football Association. The hosts were loud and energetic. It set up what The Cut called a major crossover moment — blending British royalty with American sports and pop culture all at once.
While William made headlines on the podcast, Catherine, Princess of Wales, was not expected to attend the Swift-Kelce wedding at all. Prior reporting confirmed she would skip the nuptials. William's solo appearance on New Heights seemed to keep the royal presence tied to the podcast, not the ceremony itself, per She Knows.
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