Wills signs up captain Kane to his good causes
WHEN England were defeated in the semi-finals of the World Cup last summer, Prince William declared that he ‘couldn’t be more proud’ and told the team to ‘hold your heads high’.
Now, the Duke of Cambridge is hoping to use England’s captain, Harry Kane, as his ‘secret weapon’ to help good causes close to his heart.
I learn that William held private talks at his London residence, Kensington Palace, this week with the Tottenham Hotspur striker.
‘Harry was honoured to be invited — and rather surprised,’ one of the footballer’s friends tells me.
William and Prince Harry have helped change public attitudes to mental health with their Heads Together campaign to tackle the stigma that surrounds such illness.
It is understood that the Prince would like Kane to add his star power to similar future campaigns.
Since William took over as president of the Football Association from his uncle, Prince Andrew, in 2006, he has taken a hands-on approach to the role. A keen Aston Villa fan, he got behind the ill-starred drive to have England stage the 2018 World Cup finals.
A Kensington Palace spokesman confirms that William’s talks with Kane took place, saying: ‘The Duke was meeting the captain of the England team in his capacity as president of the FA.’ The spokesman declines to comment on what was discussed in the private meeting.