The Prince of Wales made a notable admission during his appearance on the New Heights podcast this afternoon.
William told NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce that his father “hates” football.
“Absolutely not,” the 44-year-old replied when Travis enquired whether King Charles had sparked his devotion to Aston Villa.
“My father hates football.”
The Kansas City Chiefs star appeared taken aback by the candid response.
William went on to acknowledge that the Royal Family possesses little footballing heritage.
“My family haven’t got a particularly long history with football,” he told the Kelce brothers. “There are a few of us who support teams.”
The heir to the throne explained that his passion for the sport developed through childhood friendships rather than any royal influence.
The Prince of Wales made a notable admission during his appearance on the New Heights podcast this afternoon
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“My football love came from friends taking me to my first match and at school growing up,” William revealed. “You can’t avoid the football chat. It’s everywhere.”
He credited schoolmates with introducing him to the game that would become a lifelong obsession.
“Some school friends or childhood friends of mine took me to my first game,” he added.
The Prince serves as Patron of the Football Association and recently celebrated in Istanbul when Aston Villa claimed their first European trophy since 1982, defeating SC Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final.
William insisted with Travis and Jason Kelce that he will see them both at the World Cup final later this month | YOUTUBE: NEW HEIGHTS PODCAST
William has successfully passed his enthusiasm for the sport to the next generation, though not without some domestic rivalry.
Prince George has embraced his father’s allegiance, proudly supporting the claret and blue of Aston Villa.
His sister Princess Charlotte, however, has opted for a different path entirely, choosing to back Premier League competitors Chelsea.
The youngest of the Wales children, Prince Louis, has yet to declare his footballing colours and reportedly remains undecided about which club will earn his loyalty.
The divided household allegiances no doubt make for lively viewing when the two sides meet on the pitch.
William also discussed his plans for the ongoing World Cup tournament, with England set to face Mexico in a match kicking off at 1am UK time on Monday morning.
Pubs across the nation have been granted extended hours to accommodate supporters eager to watch the Three Lions in action.
Should Thomas Tuchel’s men progress past Mexico, they would face either Brazil or Norway in the quarter-finals.
The Prince confirmed to the NFL brothers that he intends to travel across the Atlantic should England reach the final of the competition.
In a generous gesture, he extended an invitation to Travis and Jason Kelce to join him for the occasion.