Prince William shows off flag football skills in first outing since visit with Kate

Prince William is out in London today to hear about the NFL Foundation's efforts to support young people in deprived areas through sport.

Prince William

Prince William was out for a day of flag football (Image: Getty)

The Prince of Wales has stepped out in London today, October 15, to attend a community event hosted by the NFL Foundation.

The event highlighted the organisation's efforts to support young people in some of the most deprived areas in the UK through flag football.

Flag football is the non-contact version of American football, where tackles are made by pulling off flags which all players wear on their hips, according to the British American Football Association. It is a rapidly growing sport in the UK and will be played in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The NFL Foundation, which is celebrating its three-year anniversary, is the first international NFL charitable arm and targets areas of the UK with high levels of deprivation and low levels of physical activity, currently engaging around 23 community organisations across London, Birmingham, Greater Manchester and Leeds, reaching more than 6,000 young people.

William was all smiles as he met with representatives from NFL UK and community partners from the Foundation to learn more about the programme.

Prince William

Prince William plays flag football at Kennington Park Hockey Turf (Image: Kensington Palace)

Prince William applauds a participant during today's event

Prince William applauds a participant during today's event (Image: Getty)

Prince William

Prince William speaks to participants at today's event (Image: Getty)
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He then spoke with young people about how they have benefited from the programme before engaging with them in NFL flag activities including catching, receiving and throwing.

The future King also chatted with players within the NFL and who are currently playing matches in London.

This included Louis Rees-Zammit, a Welsh athlete who plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Phoebe Schecter, who has represented Team GB in both Flag and Tackle football and has made history as the first British female coach in the NFL.

The NFL has been playing regular-season games in London since 2007, and the sport continues to grow in popularity in the UK.

Prince William

The Prince of Wales was in high spirits today (Image: Getty)

Prince William

The Prince of Wales engaged in NFL flag activities (Image: Kensington Palace)

Prince William poses with Louis Rees-Zammit

Prince William poses with Louis Rees-Zammit (Image: Getty)

Prince William

The Prince of Wales poses for a group photo (Image: Getty)

Today's engagement follows two successful 2024 NFL London Games that have taken place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and ahead of the final match at Wembley Stadium on October 20.

It also follows Prince William's last engagement in Southport last week, when he was joined by his wife, the Princess of Wales, in what was her first official public engagement since announcing the completion of her cancer treatment.

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