Prince William's Heartwarming Family Remarks During Saudi Arabia Visit
Prince William is concluding his intensive three-day diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, where he has been hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and engaged with various local initiatives in Riyadh. On the second day of his solo Middle East trip, the Prince of Wales participated in a football session with young female athletes at MISK Sports City, joining their training drills on the pitch.
Football Engagement and Crossbar Challenge
The future King was invited to take part in a crossbar challenge, attempting three shots at goal with the objective of striking the crossbar. However, William demonstrated his football skills by successfully putting all three balls into the net instead. Bonding with the players aged between 10 and 15, William remarked: "Have any of you ever visited the UK? You should know the weather's quite different there – cold and rainy, while you enjoy sunshine here consistently. Best of luck with your football, keep practicing diligently, and we'll hopefully see you competing in the World Cup."
Family-Focused Questions and Gifts
The young athletes then gathered around William to ask personal questions, with one girl inquiring: "Did Princess Kate accompany you on this trip?" She expressed visible disappointment when William confirmed his wife had not joined him. When encouraged to bring his family to Saudi Arabia in future, William responded warmly: "They would absolutely adore it here. Would you be willing to show them how to play football properly? My children are passionate about football, but you talented players are operating on an entirely different level."
The girls presented William with a Saudi national football shirt to take home, along with smaller personalized versions for each of his children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – featuring their names emblazoned on the backs. As he prepared to depart, William told officials: "My children genuinely love sports, so the more opportunities they have to become involved and increase their physical activity, the better for their development."
Heckling Incident Regarding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
As William began leaving the sports centre, a reporter shouted a question regarding the royal family's handling of the Epstein scandal involving his uncle. The journalist called out: "Sir, to what extent do you believe the royal family has sufficiently addressed matters surrounding Andrew and the Epstein scandal?" William did not acknowledge or respond to the question, and it remained unclear whether he had actually heard the inquiry shouted from a distance.
Official Statements and Diplomatic Context
Prior to William's arrival in Riyadh on Monday, Kensington Palace released an official statement on behalf of the Prince and Princess of Wales expressing their "profound concern" regarding the continuing distressing allegations about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The statement emphasized that their thoughts remained with all victims affected by these matters.
This declaration came mere hours before King Charles III publicly expressed his "deep concern" about allegations connected to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct concerning the Epstein scandal. Buckingham Palace confirmed it would "remain prepared to support" Thames Valley Police if approached regarding claims involving the King's brother.
Following his Monday arrival for this inaugural Saudi Arabia visit, William enjoyed what royal aides described as an "exceptionally intimate" meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During this engagement, William presented the Crown Prince with a signed England football shirt previously worn by team captain Harry Kane.
William and the Crown Prince – commonly referred to as MBS – shared a private dinner where royal aides reported they conducted a "genuinely warm conversation" that was "comprehensive in scope and addressed numerous aspects of the bilateral Saudi-UK relationship." Royal sources confirmed that William's gift of Kane's match-worn shirt from the England versus Senegal friendly on July 10, 2025, was received with genuine appreciation.
The Prince of Wales is visiting the Middle Eastern nation at the specific request of the British government, aiming to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. William, aged 44, and MBS, aged 40 – a figure who remains controversial in Western circles yet is credited with implementing sweeping modernization reforms within the traditionally strict Islamic nation – are seeking to establish a relationship that experienced diplomats suggest could potentially endure for decades to come.
