Prince William left 'unable to walk' after picking up injury

Blissett said: "We had just a couple of little words. I did ask him if he would love to come and join us on the (Watford former) players club and he said yes, he would love to.

"He said he was playing (football) last week and he said he couldn't walk for a week afterwards. He says he still plays 11-a-side."

Prince William has always been an avid football fan and is even President of the FA, a role he has held since 2006 after taking over from his uncle, Prince Andrew.

He still regularly attends football matches and supports Aston Villa as well as making an appearance at bigger events such as the Women's Euros finals in 2022.

William's children are also fans of the sport with Charlotte recording a sweet message in support for the Lionesses ahead of the Euros final.

The Prince of Wales surprised players following the match by hugging each Lioness as he celebrated their victory with them.

The future king says football is how he met some of his closest friends.

Speaking to Harry Kane and Declan Rice in November 2022, he told them that he has "a lot of friends" he met while playing football during his youth.

"Some of the greatest friendships are born from playing games and being pushed together in slight adversity," the Prince said.

He also previously recalled playing four simultaneous games of football with his entire set at school – around 60 pupils – using multiple balls.

"The sheer size and scale and just the fun of everyone running around chasing each other, I loved it," he explained.

"I was a defender, I was stuck at the back and told to just tackle," he added.

William has fallen foul of tackles in recent years and was "wiped out" by I'm a Celebrity star Jill Scott.

"It does stem back to about 10 years ago when we did a charity event and I slipped and slide-tackled him and actually wiped him out," Scott explained on her BBC podcast Jill Scott's Coffee Club.