He may be one of the most famous men in the world, but it’s not often that Prince William is faced with the prospect of speaking before an audience of billions across the globe.
However, that was the nerve-wracking role which faced the 24-year-old Prince as he officially opened the new Wembley Stadium in London.
In his capacity as President of The Football Association, Prince William was guest of honour at today’s FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United.
Momentarily puffing out his cheeks as he psyched himself up for his biggest moment on the world stage yet, the second-in-line to the throne did his family and country proud as he confidently declared the stadium open.
Duty-bound to swap his favoured baseball caps and jeans for a formal suit and FA tie, the soccer-mad Prince (an Aston Villa fan) then settled back into his luxurious leather seat in the Royal Box for what was to be a slow start to a non-too-thrilling match.
Following much debate behind palace walls, it was decided several months ago that William should be the member of the Royal Family to open Britain’s most prestigious sporting arena.
Although it had been suggested that the Queen herself should oversee the opening ceremony, such is the significance of Wembley to the United Kingdom and the country’s sporting identity, it was decided that this would be inappropriate, not least because she has little or no interest in football.
Palace aides are also said to have felt that this engagement would be a perfect opportunity to present William before the world and, in turn, inject a little youth into the profile of the now somewhat aged House of Windsor.
Considering Prince Charles’s earlier visit to the FA Cup Final, which saw the royal guest almost present the trophy to the losing team, it’s unlikely anybody suggested the heir to the throne be asked to return to what is one of the biggest sporting events in the year
Having made his speech and mouthed the words of the National Anthem, William made the short journey along the red carpet to meet the two teams and the referees.
The Prince has previously enjoyed a chance to mix with some of the England stars, including Wayne Rooney, during his visit last Summer to England’s training ground in Manchester and his trip to the World Cup finals in Germany
Unlike last year, when William came down from the stands in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to present the FA Cup to Steven Gerrard and his Liverpool team-mates, the decision has been taken at the highest levels in football across Europe to reinstate the tradition of teams making the long walk to the royal box.
And so it was that the losers Manchester United dragged their weary legs up the 107 steps to the new Royal Box at Wembley, followed soon after by a far more buoyant Chelsea.
Some TV viewers may have been struck by the fact that, whilst none of the English-born members of the overall foreign Chelsea squad formally acknowledged the Prince, the team’s Portuguese manager, Jose Mourinho, bowed his head in respect to the future King as he was presented with his winners’ medal.
Prince William was following in the footsteps of generations of his royal ancestors in attending this weekend’s FA Cup Final.
Before Charles and Diana’s eldest son accepted the role, the title of President of the English Football Association was held by his Uncle, Prince Andrew (it wasn’t a wholly successful association, the Duke of York making few public appearances in this capacity).
Before then, the Queen’s first cousin, the Duke of Kent was a more high profile attendee at the annual FA Cup final, in times past accompanied by his now retired wife, the Duchess of Kent.
They may not be the most natural football fans that is until William and Harry came on the scene but the Royal Family has always enjoyed a close association with the so-called ‘beautiful game’.
In 1923, Prince William’s great-great-grandfather, King George V, attended the very first FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
As he tentatively stepped up to the podium to make his first major official public speech, how the young Prince must have wished he too lived in an age before royalty was truly expected to speak to the world…
