Prince William Shows Off His Soccer Skills in a Suit and Sneakers During Surprise Scotland Visit

• Prince William visited Scotland on May 21, where he learned how street soccer is improving the local community.

• The Royal Foundation announced a collaboration with Street Soccer Scotland to build on efforts to revitalize Leith Community Centre

• The Prince of Wales is a dedicated soccer fan and recently attended games with his eldest son, Prince George

Prince William is using his favorite game to help highlight how it can help foster improved well-being and build community.

The Prince of Wales, 42, made an unannounced trip to Leith, in Scotland, on May 21 to see a local soccer project that is inspiring better health and improving social connections. Prince William — who goes by the title of Duke of Rothesay while in Scotland — visited Leith Community Centre, on the eastern edge of Edinburgh, to see how street soccer is helping to transform lives.

As he did, the Royal Foundation — the organization that oversees the charitable work from him and his wife, Kate Middleton — revealed their latest commitment to local communities by announcing a collaboration with Street Soccer Scotland to build on efforts to revitalize Leith Community Centre. The foundation is also working closely with the charity as it convenes local partners, including Leith Community Centre and YMCA Edinburgh, to create “Leith United.”

A key aim is to build on existing sports-based initiatives at the community center that use the power of soccer to support people experiencing issues such as poor mental health, addiction, homelessness and isolation as well as foster a sense of belonging in the Leith community, Prince William’s office says.

It is the latest in the rollout of initiatives across the U.K. that aim to have a positive lasting impact following a royal visit. And it came as Time magazine named William and Kate, 43, as one of their Time100 Philanthropists for 2025. Saying their “modern royal agenda” showed they were “less concerned with cultural preservation and more attuned to social issues.”

As Prince William began the visit on May 21, he met Street Soccer Scotland founder and CEO, David Duke (whom the prince knows through his Homewards project to combat homelessness) to hear how they aim to revitalize Leith Community Centre. Talking to Street Soccer coaches and players, some of whom have experienced homelessness, William was told how the new partnership will benefit socially disadvantaged adults and young people in the Leith area.

Street Soccer Scotland started life in Leith in 2009 and has been delivering free training and personal development programs for socially disadvantaged adults and young people since then.

Soccer is a favorite sport for Prince William, who not only has a ceremonial role with the Football Association but also loves to watch Premier League team Aston Villa. In recent months, as the season neared its climax, he has taken his elder son, Prince George, 11, to several matches too — and both got seriously animated in the stands.

In fact, Prince William was presented with a drawing dedicated to the team during his visit on Wednesday.

After being shown around the Leith community center, Prince William took part in a discussion with Edinburgh YMCA’s Youth Forum, hosted by CEO Mike Kerracher, to get some idea from the young people from across Leith talk about their aspirations for both the center and ideas for future projects.

Prince William and Princess Kate’s foundation’s Community Impact program seeks to mobilize coalitions to help communities bring about better social connection, support and develop local community spaces for people to create opportunities and improve access to activities.

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His visit to Scotland came a day after he and Princess Kate hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace. On May 22, the couple will be reunited in Scotland as they are leading a naming ceremony for the warship HMS Glasgow in the docklands of the city that shares the name with the navy ship.

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