Prince William recently revealed his “crucial motto” for parenting during a visit to the NFL Foundation in London. The 42-year-old royal made light-hearted comments about his family dynamics while engaging with the event’s activities, which aim to address challenges faced by young people in some of the UK’s most deprived areas.

 

Encouraged by the organizers to demonstrate his American football s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s, Prince William participated in throwing the football through a series of targets. After showcasing his abilities, he was presented with a football to take home to his children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

 

In a witty response, William remarked, “Oh, that’s very kind. Never go home empty-handed,” highlighting his playful approach to parenting. His comment reflects the importance he places on family and the little moments that can bring joy to his children.

 

The Prince of Wales’s visit underscored his commitment to supporting youth initiatives while providing a glimpse into his relatable parenting philosophy, blending humor with heartfelt intentions.

 

 

‘That’s a crucial motto of being a parent. That’s very kind of you, thank you very much. They’ll love that.’

 

William joked that he would practise his s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s at home and ‘see how many windows he could smash’ after impressing professional players with his efforts on the pitch.

 

The royal joined a community event in south London hosted by the NFL Foundation UK, a charity that works with young people in deprived areas.

 

It uses NFL Flag, a non-contact version of American football, to engage teenagers and help change lives.

 

The Prince gamely had a go at several throwing drills before taking to the pitch as a quarterback.

 

Louis Rees-Zammit, a former Welsh rugby player who recently switched to NFL, was impressed with his s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s.

 

‘He can throw the ball,’ he said. ‘He can throw the ball better than me. He can get a good spiral on the ball as well, not like me!’

 

Phoebe Schecter, GB women’s flag football team captain, added: ‘His arm strength is incredible. I could not believe how far he could throw the ball. He did a great job. Very coachable.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

During his visit to the NFL Foundation in London, Prince William engaged in a series of entertaining activities that showcased his playful spirit. One of the highlights involved throwing a football into various small holes in a large net. After receiving tips on his stance and grip, the Prince initially missed his first shot but celebrated joyfully when he successfully scored on his second attempt.

 

“One out of two’s alright. I’ll retire on that. That’s my NFL career,” he joked, eliciting jubilant high fives from those around him. After being encouraged to try again, he expressed disappointment when he missed another shot, lamenting that he “got no spin on it.” Determined to improve, he asked for advice on how to get the ball to “spin properly.” His effort paid off when he scored on his fifth attempt, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

 

In addition to the net activity, Prince William threw the ball to teenagers who ran and dove onto crash mats, showcasing his enthusiasm for the sport. While he acknowledged his lack of understanding of NFL tactics, he noted that a better grasp of the game might spark his interest further.

 

As a memento from the day, he was gifted three mini footballs for his children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and a full-sized ball for himself. He humorously remarked, “I’ll do some practice at home and see how many windows I can smash,” reflecting his light-hearted approach to parenting.

 

Accompanied by Henry Hodgson, general manager of NFL UK, and Will Stone, head of social impact and government strategy, the Prince learned about the growing popularity of flag football in the UK. With an increasing number of schools getting involved, the sport is set to be featured in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, promising an exciting future for young athletes.

 

 

The NFL Foundation, which is celebrating its three-year anniversary, is the first NFL charitable arm to be launched overseas.

 

The Prince met representatives from NFL UK and community partners to hear about the work being undertaken to help young people develop confidence and reach their potential through sport.

 

He asked many of the teenagers playing for their communities what it was they liked about the sport, how it differed to rugby and football and what kind of s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s they needed.

 

He told Ms Schecter that when he was younger he used to play the sport on the beach. ‘One summer we had 12 of us on the beach, it was loads of fun,’he said.

 

As patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, the Prince had met Rees-Zammit on more than one occasion. ‘Good to see you again, different guise!’ he said.

 

William asked which s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s NFL were looking for and what the differences were between the two sports. ‘Is it like chalk and cheese?’ he asked. ‘Do you come on for two minutes and just blitz it and go off again?’

 

The NFL has been playing regular-season games in London since 2007, with games being played this month at the Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley stadiums.

 

The NFL Foundation UK launched in 2021 in partnership with the Mayor of London’s Sport Unites fund and has since received funding from Sport England to expand beyond London to Greater Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds through a partnership with the San Francisco 49ers.

 

On this occasion, William was making a solo outing without the Princess of Wales, who has been making a slow but steady return to engagements following her preventative chemotherapy treatment.

 

Later on, William met with Welsh athlete and NFL player Louis Rees-Zammit and GB Women’s Flag football captain Phoebe Schecter.

 

The heir to the throne posed with Zammit, 23, holding a special NFL shirt reading ‘HRH 24’, before taking a group photograph with the participants.

 

The NFL Foundation, which is celebrating its three year anniversary, aims to provide a fast-paced, inclusive and easy to access American Football format.