Prince William reveals King Charles 'hates football' on Travis Kelce's podcast

The revelation

Prince William appeared on the 'New Heights' podcast hosted by NFL star Travis Kelce and his brother Jason, released on Friday 3 July. When asked whether his passion for football came from his father, the Prince of Wales was emphatic.

Absolutely not. My father hates football.

The podcast dropped just hours before Kelce's wedding to pop superstar Taylor Swift, yet the conversation focused squarely on the World Cup rather than the upcoming ceremony.

Royal football allegiances

William, 44, is a well-known supporter of Premier League club Aston Villa. He recently celebrated their Europa League final victory, the club's first European title since 1982. The prince admitted his family has 'no particularly long football tradition' and that he developed his love for the game through school friends who took him to his first match.

King Charles III, by contrast, has previously declared himself a Burnley supporter. The club was recently relegated to the second division, a fact the BBC wryly noted 'could be a factor' in his complicated relationship with the sport. In 2012, then-Prince Charles said he backed Burnley because the former industrial town near Manchester had 'been through some very difficult times,' suggesting his allegiance was more civic than sporting.

England's World Cup run

England reached the round of 16 after a high-class performance from captain Harry Kane. The Bayern Munich striker scored twice in the final minutes against DR Congo to secure progression. The Three Lions now face Mexico on Sunday at the high-altitude Azteca Stadium.

Definitely.

William confirmed he would cross the Atlantic to attend the final should England advance that far. He praised the manager for putting the squad 'in a very good mental state' and encouraging 'more freedom and flow,' though he noted the travel demands between the USA, Mexico and Canada posed a logistical challenge.

Podcast moments

William also used the American platform for a light-hearted correction: 'I have to correct you, it's called football, not soccer!' He hinted he may have received an invitation to Taylor Swift's wedding, adding a layer of celebrity crossover to an already headline-grabbing appearance.