Prince William’s every move makes national headlines, which comes as no surprise given his status as a senior working member of the British Royal Family. He continues to carry out official royal duties. However, the latest news about him has nothing to do with his royal duties. Reports say he stopped traffic outside Buckingham Palace. The reason may surprise people.
Prince William plays cricket outside Buckingham Palace ahead of the Earthshot Prize
According to Reuters’ October 13 report, Prince William turned The Mall into a temporary cricket pitch on Tuesday. It is one of London’s most famous routes. The road leads to Buckingham Palace, and some of the sport’s biggest legends joined him to promote his Earthshot climate prize. The wide, red-paved route in central London usually serves as the setting for grand royal processions and patriotic flag-waving celebrations.
William picked up a cricket bat for a friendly match with current and former international players. They included former India captain Sourav Ganguly, West Indies legend Brian Lara, and England captain Joe Root. Against the grand backdrop of Buckingham Palace, William wore a shirt and sweater while hitting several shots off Ganguly’s gentle deliveries. He also took selfies with spectators who had gathered to watch. As per Ganguly, the Prince “batted alright.”
The event aimed to celebrate the close ties between Britain and India, two nations passionate about cricket. India is preparing to host the annual summit and awards ceremony for William’s Earthshot Prize next month.
For context, this isn’t the first time the 44-year-old has picked up a cricket bat. He previously visited the National Cricket Academy in Lahore with Kate Middleton. They played cricket with Pakistan cricket team players and children. During his 2016 visit to India, the Prince of Wales also enjoyed batting against legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s deliveries.
In 2023, William also played a special match at Headingley Cricket Ground to mark the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation. During the ITV special, he batted against Alford Gardner, who was a passenger on the HMT Empire Windrush.
