Prince William Joins Travis Kelce’s Podcast, Talks Football, Taylor Swift and England’s World Cup Dreams

• Prince William joined Travis and Jason Kelce on the New Heights podcast.
• The prince discussed England’s World Cup hopes and his lifelong support for Aston Villa.
• The episode also revisited William’s previous meetings with Taylor Swift and the Kelce family.

Prince William made a surprise appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast, joining the brothers for a relaxed, wide-ranging conversation about football, England’s World Cup hopes, Aston Villa, the royal family’s encounters with Taylor Swift, and the UK’s relationship with the United States.

The 28-minute episode, released Thursday, marked one of the Prince of Wales’ most informal public interviews to date.

“It’s Football,” William Reminds Travis Kelce

The conversation began with some playful back-and-forth over what to call the sport. When Travis Kelce referred to it as “soccer,” William quickly corrected him, reminding the Kansas City Chiefs star that, in Britain, it is simply “football.”

The discussion soon turned to the FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States. Travis asked whether William would travel across the Atlantic if England reached the final. “They make it to the finals, you’re gonna make the trip across the pond?” Travis asked. “Definitely. If we’re in the finals,” William replied. “Oh, I love it, man,” Travis said. “Well, maybe. Maybe. See you both there for the final,” William added, referring to Travis and Jason.

England’s Goal? “Winning It“

When asked what would count as a successful World Cup for England, William did not overcomplicate his answer. “I think winning it,” he said. He also praised England manager Thomas Tuchel’s attacking approach, saying he liked the idea of England playing boldly rather than cautiously.

“Thomas, I think, prefers to go a bit more out there, and if we lose, we lose playing the way we want to play,” William said. “And if you’re going to score four goals, we’ll score five. And I think that’s a really good attitude.”

Life as an Aston Villa Fan

William also opened up about his long-running support for Aston Villa, saying his connection to the club actually deepened during one of its most difficult periods. “So I think weirdly, this sounds very odd, but I got into football more than ever when we got relegated,” he said. He explained that when Villa dropped from the Premier League to the Championship, he became even more invested in the club’s fight to return to the top flight.

The prince also admitted that Villa’s results can affect his entire weekend. “My weekend goes from being either the best we can in the world when we win… or frankly, I don’t want to see anyone on Monday morning because I’m really down,” he said. William recalled becoming an Aston Villa supporter after attending a match against Bolton more than 20 years ago.

“My Father Hates Football”

At one point, Travis asked whether William’s love of the sport came from his father, King Charles III. “Did your dad get you into Aston Villa, or is this your own doing?” Travis asked. “Absolutely not. My father hates football,” William replied. King Charles has previously described himself as a Burnley supporter.

Jason Kelce on Meeting Princess Charlotte

The episode also revisited the Kelce brothers’ earlier meeting with the royal family at an NFL game at Wembley Stadium. Jason joked about not knowing what to do with the beer he was holding when he greeted the royals.

“It wasn’t a joke. It was real. Well, you want to be respectful and know the protocols,” Jason said. He also spoke warmly about meeting Princess Charlotte. “Princess Charlotte was still the highlight for me. I had four daughters as well, so I mean, she was great,” Jason said. William congratulated Jason on raising four daughters.

“Now, congratulations. Having four daughters. I don’t know how you do that,” William said. “That is definitely a difficult task. The hardest job,” Jason replied.

William, George, and Charlotte’s Taylor Swift Moment

The conversation also comes after William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte met Taylor Swift backstage during her London Eras Tour stop. The group posed for a selfie that Swift later shared on social media.

Although the podcast did not focus heavily on Swift, the episode arrives amid continued media speculation about her relationship with Travis Kelce. Neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly confirmed any wedding plans.

William on the UK-US Relationship

The discussion also touched on the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations. Asked whether he was surprised America had reached the milestone, William joked, “There were times… There were times…” He then struck a warmer note, saying he hoped the close relationship between the two countries would continue. N”I’d like to think the UK and the US would be together for those 250 years,” he said. “It’s a good brotherhood.”

His Advice to Football Fans: “Just Don’t Mess Up”

William also gave Travis and Jason a light-hearted warning about the atmosphere around English football. “Those rowdy evenings, those long afternoons, a few drinks, the social elements of it. You know, there are plenty of chants you guys don’t want to hear,” he said. “They’re pretty spicy. They’re quite rude to broadcast.”

Asked what advice he would give as president of the Football Association, William kept it brief. “Just don’t mess up,” he said. The prince ended the conversation by naming several of England’s greatest footballers, including David Beckham, Gary Lineker, Harry Kane, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Bobby Charlton. He singled out Kane as one of the country’s greatest strikers.