Last night, The Duke of Cambridge was joined by frontline health workers and local football fans to watch the newly named ‘Heads Up’ FA Cup final. Prince William, who is President of the FA, had deck chairs and a large outdoor screen set up on the lawn of Sandringham House, The Queen’s Norfolk home usually used for her Christmas break.
William watched the match alongside former England captain Tony Adams, who helped found ‘Heads Up‘, and comedian Romesh Ranganathan, who is an ambassador for the charity Calm – the Campaign Against Living Miserably.
He was seen discussing Aston Villa’s victory over West Ham on Sunday, which meant his team avoided relegation.
“The nerves were the worst I’ve ever known them,” William said. “My children looked at me in horror as I was jumping off the sofa, screaming my head off.
The Duke of Cambridge chats to football fans at his outdoor screening of the Heads Up FA Cup Final at Sandringham (@KensingtonRoyal)
“It’s very good news that as president of the FA that I can hide away until these moments, and I’m not visibly seen because it was one of the most stressful moments of my life, as I imagine every Villa fan felt on that day.”
Speaking about the Heads Up campaign, the Prince said: “We started back last year thinking that to build the momentum around mental health, to be able to talk about more freely and openly, we need to use a vehicle that huge power and huge potential.
“And we realised that football has got that ability for every person up and down the country, all around the world to really relate to and understand, so we thought why not have the biggest conversation around mental health using football as that tool, and we have been really pleased with the response.”
Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge Tony Adams as he hosts an outdoor screening of the FA Cup final in aid of his Heads Up mental health campaign, on the lawn of Sandringham House
The Duke, wearing a Heads Up badge, predicted the outcome of the match, ahead of the game: “I’m thinking 2-1 Arsenal.” He called it correctly!
Tables were set up with water, wine and beer, as well as hand sanitiser! Chairs were also a safe distance apart.
As Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lifted the trophy, William commented: “That is why they need the President there!”
"That's why you need the President there!" ? — Prince William, @FA President, on @Aubameyang7's struggles with the FA Cup trophy #HeadsUpFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/I9vKN9UEPQ
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) August 1, 2020
It would normally have been the Duke’s job to present the trophy.
Aubameyang then went on to drop the trophy!
The smoothest trophy lift you're ever likely to see?
We think so ?
? @Aubameyang7 pic.twitter.com/dVisDCNVl7
— ? Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 1, 2020
