The Prince of Wales appeared at a local community centre and name-dropped a top Scottish footballer
The Prince of Wales arrives for a visit to Leith Community Centre, Edinburgh, to shine a light on the power of community-led social impact(Image: Chris Jackson/PA Wire)
Prince William has made a surprise visit to Scotland – and joked that a Scottish national footballer could join him on his next visit. The Royal was in Leith on Wednesday to kick off a partnership with a Scottish football charity.
The Prince of Wales joined a practice session run by Street Soccer Scotland, backed by his Royal Foundation, which will fund a range of initiatives at the charity’s branch near Edinburgh.
The financial support from the foundation’s Community Impact Project will also help the charity create Leith United – a collaboration with Leith Community Centre and YMCA Edinburgh.
Prince William speaks with young guests about their aspirations and upcoming projects at the YMCA’s Youth Forum(Image: Chris Jackson/PA Wire)
The prince met YMCA user Shaniah Gilgun, aged 10, and learnt about her efforts with other youngsters to improve housing conditions in the area. But the conversation turned to football when he spotted a poster of Aston Villa.
William, who is a Villa fanatic, and even admitted to performing some unusual superstitions and traditions to boost the team’s chances on game day, mentioned the club’s captain, who also leads the Scottish national side.
The father-of-three, who shares Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis with Kate Middleton, told Shaniah: “Maybe I should bring John McGinn… might have to wait till he retires – we’ll put it in the pipeline.”
Laughing, he added: “He promised me he would come up and show me around.”
Prince William said John McGinn, Aston Villa captain, might join him in Scotland next time(Image: Cameron Smith – Danehouse/Getty Images)
William also comically told a group of children, after asking about their football teams during his visit to the community centre, that his youngest son Louis also supports “five different teams now”.
Shaniah later mentioned William’s praise for her housing campaign.
She said the partnership was sealed, though, when he name-dropped McGinn.
“He said it was a really good thing and that we should keep doing it and only good will come out of it,” Shaniah said.
“When he mentioned John McGinn, I said, ‘That’s a deal’.”
Prince William and Street Soccer Scotland founder and CEO David Duke (back centre left) pose with football coaches and players during his visit (Image: Chris Jackson/PA Wire)
Prince William was not the only family member rubbing shoulders with decorated footballers this week. The King enjoyed an unexpected encounter with David Beckham at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday, May 19.
The pair even hinted at a collaborative venture on the horizon. Charles and Queen Camilla, were welcomed by the ex-Manchester United icon and TV horticulture expert Alan Titchmarsh during their visit to the exhibition.
The ex-England skipper was visibly thrilled to see Charles and Camilla at the Highgrove Shop display, where all proceeds support The King’s Foundation. Beckham has been the foundation’s ambassador for the past year.
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Street Soccer Scotland was founded by David Duke in Leith in 2009 before he opened centres across Scotland to deliver free football-themed training and personal development programmes.
The aim is to support people experiencing issues like poor mental health, addiction, homelessness and isolation.
The charity will use the Royal Foundation grant to renovate Leith Community Centre, enhance sports-based initiatives at the site, enable outreach work in the community and fund an impact manager over three years to co-ordinate grassroots leaders and local partnerships.