Prince William Hands Out Red Cards as He Plays Soccer Referee Following Big Day with Kate Middleton

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Williamis hitting the soccer field and taking on the role of referee.

Prince William visits FA Referee Training Course at Aspray Arena on March 11, 2025.Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty

Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty

The Prince of Wales — who is the patron of the FA, soccer’s governing body in England — has a well-documented love of soccer. The royal is known tosend personal messagesabout major news in the soccer world on the official social media accounts he shares withKate Middleton, and he also seems to havepassed down his passionfor the Aston Villa team to his eldest son,Prince George, 11.

He learned more about the training course, which kicked off in July 2023 and weaves theory and practical training to support people learning to officiate soccer matches. Participants will learn how to referee grassroots games efficiently in a program for individuals over age 14 who hope to referee mini football, 9v9 and 11v11 games.

The heir to the throne met with reps from the FA and Sporting Khalsa to discuss the importance of increasing opportunities in soccer for young people from diverse backgrounds and connect with trainers from the course to hear about their personal journeys.

His visit to the referee training course falls the day after theCommonwealth Day Service of Celebrationat Westminster Abbey in London, which was especially momentous as Princess Kate andKing Charlesattended for the first time in two years.

The Princess of Wales, 43, and the King, 76, were unable to attend the commemoration in March 2024 for health-related reasons. Kate had been recovering from a"planned abdominal surgery"that January before revealing on March 22 that shebegan chemotherapy treatmentfor cancer. (The royal has since shared in September that shecompleted chemotherapyand said on Jan. 14 that she isin remission.)

King Charles also did not go to the annual service in 2024 as doctors advised him to postpone public-facing work after he began treatment for acancer diagnosisannounced in February 2024. On Monday, he ledQueen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales,Princess Anne,Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester andBirgitte, the Duchess of Gloucesteras the contingent of working royals during his return to the Commonwealth Day Service.

Palace sources said in December that King Charles' treatment for cancer wouldcontinue intothe new year, “moving in a positive direction and as a managed condition.”

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King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration on March 10, 2025.Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

The Commonwealth Day Service was the royal family’s first major event of the year, held to celebrate the network of 56 nations (most formerly under the British crown) which exists to enrich the lives of its 2.7 billion citizens.

King Charles is the head of the Commonwealth itself, and the Monday service — where Prince William and Princess Kate snuck ina look of love— is a staple on the royal family’s annual calendar.

source: people.com