Prince William carried out what was the most significant foreign engagement of his career this month when he travelled to Saudi Arabia for a three-day visit.The heir to the throne held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and made an eye-catching gesture during his meeting with the Saudi royal.William gifted an England football shirt bearing Harry Kane’s signature, which the Three Lions captain wore during a friendly match against Senegal on June 10, 2025.The gift was a not so subtle nod to Saudi Arabia’s ambitions: Riyadh has made a seismic push to attract some of the world’s best footballers to their country’s league over the last three years.The Prince of Wales held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and made an eye-catching gesture during his meeting with the Saudi royal. | GETTYThe gargantuan contracts awarded to stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s resolve to grow domestic interest in the sport ahead of hosting the 2034 World Cup.It was an intelligent and well-received move by Prince William to lean on his passion for football and the bonds he has created within the industry during an engagement that held such importance to the UK.Sir John Jenkins, the former British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, highlighted the UK’s footballing prestige as an entry point for building a stronger relationship between the two countries.He told GB News: “It was an interesting gesture. Harry Kane is approaching David Beckham’s level of recognition. Saudi Arabia is trying, under Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to develop a brand very different from its historical reputation and build soft power. It shows the direction of their ambition. “There is clearly an entry for Britain because of the strength of the Premier League.”The Prince of Wales was accompanied by his eldest child, Prince George, to watch the Three Lions suffer an agonising 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final. | GETTYPrince William was first appointed the President of England’s Football Association in 2005 and held the position for almost two decades before transitioning to the role of Patron of the FA in 2024.The royal stepped back as President due to a desire to focus on his roles and responsibilities in Wales and as the Duke of Cornwall, but as Patron, he could remain a key part of English football in a more scaled-back role.Prince William has been one of the most high-profile supporters of both England’s men’s team and the Lionesses this decade.In the summer of 2024, William travelled to Germany to attend three of England’s matches at the European Championships as the men’s national team reached the final of the competition.The Prince of Wales was accompanied by his eldest child, Prince George, to watch the Three Lions suffer an agonising 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final.The public appearances alongside his elder son at football matches indicate that William has passed on his love for ‘the beautiful game’ to Prince George.In fact, all three of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s children appear to have taken an interest in the sport.Princess Charlotte joined her father to cheer on the Lionesses during last summer’s final. | GETTYCatherine shared a photo of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who were nine and six at the time, wearing England shirts with their names and ages on the back as they watched the Euro 2024 final on TV.Prince William has equally been supporting the Lionesses during their historic back-to-back European Championship triumphs in 2022 and 2025. Princess Charlotte joined her father to cheer on the Lionesses during last summer’s final.England footballer Lucy Bronze opened up on the personal connection Prince William has developed with the squad.Bronze, who has 144 caps for the Lionesses, said regarding the royal: “He’s been to almost every pre-camp, and he always comes and says good luck to us in person.”She also revealed that the Lionesses gifted Prince William a football kit for Princess Charlotte when she was born in 2015.Bronze said: “I remember when Charlotte was born, we had a little England Lionesses kit made for her, and we gave it to Prince William when he came to St George’s Park to meet us.”It’s been nice to watch her grow up as well, and knowing that we’ve tried to impact little girls like Charlotte in England and empower them to do whatever they want when they’re older.”The Prince of Wales was handed a UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 winners medal to keep after the final and gave it to his daughter. | GETTYHowever, it has not all been smooth sailing for Prince William when it comes to championing the nation’s football teams.In 2023, the prince suffered a backlash when he decided not to travel to Australia to support the Lionesses in their historic first appearance in a Women’s World Cup final.The decision was exacerbated by the fact that no member of the British Royal Family attended the pivotal match, while the Queen of Spain and her daughter both made the long-haul journey to Australia to cheer on their country’s team.James Cleverly, who was the UK Foreign Secretary at the time, was selected to represent the country at the event.The day before the final, Prince William apologised for deciding not to attend the match in a video message alongside his daughter, Princess Charlotte.Prince William said: “Lionesses, I want to send you a huge good luck for tomorrow. We’re sorry we can’t be there in person, but we’re so proud of everything you’ve achieved and the millions you’ve inspired here and around the world. So go out there tomorrow and really enjoy yourselves.”Princess Charlotte added: “Good luck, Lionesses.”Prince William and Prince George are passionate Aston Villa fans. | GETTYPrince William’s love for football does not just stop with England’s teams; the Prince of Wales is also a devoted Aston Villa fan.Last season, the royal travelled to Monaco and Paris to support the Birmingham-based club in their first-ever Champions League campaign.Prince William brought Prince George to the French capital to watch Aston Villa’s quarter-final match with PSG in a moment that royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams described as “important for the royal image”.Mr Fitzwilliams hailed the decision, telling GB News: “It is very good for George, going to Paris in that way and seeing some of the other matches they have been to together.”It is important for the royal image that you have this balance between showing who you are and then certain events that are more formal.”The trip to Paris also allowed Prince William to connect with millions of football fans across the UK.William joined football pundits Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist ahead of the match to discuss tactics on live TV. | TNT SportsWilliam joined football pundits Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist ahead of the match to discuss tactics on live TV.The six-minute segment was viewed almost a million times within 24 hours on TNT’s social media page alone.During the interview, a stunned Mr Ferdinand briefly paused the conversation to joke: “Can I just say something? Do not go for a punditry job, please, because I could be out of a job!”A royal source said regarding the prince’s TV appearance: “William absolutely loved the experience and would 100 per cent be up for doing it again.“He is a passionate football fan and has really enjoyed following Aston Villa’s success.”The source added that William believes “the beautiful game has the power to bring communities together” and was pleased his appearance received such a positive reaction.Prince William is forming a different relationship with Prince George than the one he had with King Charles. | GETTYMr Fitzwilliams stated the Prince of Wales’s openness about his love for football “takes the royal image to a far more informal place” in a way that is breaking down barriers between younger generations and the monarchy.He added that Prince William is forming a different relationship with Prince George than the one he had with King Charles.Mr Fitzwilliams said: “Charles did not project the sort of exuberance that William is passing on to George.”This is a new persona within the Royal Family, as Charles is of a different temperament.”An enthusiasm for a sport that is so popular does help build a connection.”US President Donald Trump views the World Cup’s success as paramount to the legacy of his second-term in office. | GETTYThe diplomatic significance of Prince William’s ties to football will be seen once again this summer when the royal travels to the US to support England at the 2026 World Cup.The World Cup will take place next summer from June 11 to July 19, and US President Donald Trump views its success as paramount to the legacy of his second-term in office.The Prince of Wales is expected to attend England’s third group game against Panama on June 27 due to its close proximity to the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence celebrations on July 4.Following a sport loved by billions of people globally has now become a key tool in the future king’s arsenal on the world stage.