Prince William reportedly told staff he wasn't going to a meeting because he was having too much fun drinking beer and talking about football with former football star Peter Crouch. The Duke of Cambridge joined Crouch for his podcast recently and enjoyed his time enough to cancel another appointment.
According to Yahoo Entertainment, William ended up spending hours with Crouch and his podcast mate Radio One host Chris Stark. The guys initially thought they were going to spend 45 minutes with William. A Kensington Palace staff member reportedly approached the duke just as they were supposed to be winding down to remind him of his next meeting. But William told her that this next appointment could be delayed.
Stark's listeners said, however, this might have been a "code" for William to easily excuse himself if the podcast wasn't going well. But the Queen's former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, believes William was quite comfortable during his talk with Crouch.
William had Crouch do his podcast at Kensington Palace to discuss mental health, especially among professional athletes and football players. It was part of William's campaign with Heads Up, his mental health advocacy, and the Football Association, where he is the president.
William revealed his deep enthusiasm for football. He said it was the only time he is motivated to share a post on Twitter, especially if his favorite team is doing well. However, his royal staff apparently take gadgets off his hands because he might tweet something that will get him in trouble.
The duke said he horrified his children while watching a football game because he screamed his head off. During the sit-down, William served his guests curry from Crouch's west London Indian restaurant. The group also drank lager and Guinness as they were recording the podcast.
Meanwhile, William said football needs to be a better game. He said physical fitness is not enough as players should also be mentally fit, especially when there's too much pressure to excel and win.
The royal said that athletes must get support mentally not just from their coaches and fellow players but also from their families and fans. Football associations and clubs across the world must incorporate mental wellness in their programs.
