Prince William takes monarchy modernisation to US sports podcast
Prince William's surprise appearance on a major US sports podcast underscores the British monarchy's ongoing strategy to secure transatlantic soft power through non-traditional media.
Prince William appeared as a surprise guest on the New Heights podcast, hosted by American NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce. The 28-minute YouTube episode, released on the day Travis Kelce married Taylor Swift, focused heavily on the World Cup, which the US is co-hosting.
The interview is the latest example of the Prince of Wales using informal, digital platforms to project a modernised British monarchy to international audiences. It follows his previous conversation with comedian Eugene Levy on Apple TV, signalling a calculated shift away from formal press engagements toward cultural spaces with massive reach.
During the episode, William leaned into the transatlantic dynamic, teasing the hosts about America's upcoming 250th anniversary. "There were times... There were times," he joked, before adding: "I'd like to think the UK and the US would be together for those 250 years. Oh, yeah, it's a good brotherhood."
The core discussion centred on football, with William firmly correcting the hosts' use of the word "soccer". He revealed he would travel to the US if England reaches the World Cup final. "Definitely. If we're in the finals," he said, before adding: "Well, maybe. Maybe. See you both there for the final."
William also offered a rare public assessment of England manager Thomas Tuchel's strategy. "Thomas, I think, prefers to go a bit more out there - and if we lose, we lose playing the way we want to play. And if you're going to score four goals, we'll score five. And I think that's a really good attitude," he said.
When asked to name an English footballing Mount Rushmore, William listed Sir David Beckham, Gary Lineker, Harry Kane, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Sir Bobby Charlton. He noted that Kane could end up as one of the greatest English strikers ever seen.
The informal setting drew out candid family details, most notably William stating that his father King Charles "hates football", despite the monarch previously claiming to support Burnley. William also detailed his intense, 26-year support for Aston Villa, admitting his mood suffers when the club loses.
"Frankly, I don't want to see anyone on Monday morning because I'm really down," he said. Summarising his broader approach as president of the Football Association, the prince offered blunt management advice: "Just don't mess up."
