Not Just a Future King: William’s Charming, Playful Side

Inside Mentivity House, William quickly showed his playful side, enthusiastically participating in a game of Mario Kart with local schoolchildren.

Revealing his competitive streak, he narrowly won a spirited race against 10-year-old Zia from Michael Faraday School, congratulating her warmly: “Brilliant! Neck and neck the whole way. Well done, well played.”

The centre, founded in 2016, plays a vital role in the local community by providing mentoring programmes, school outreach, youth clubs and even nutritious meals, often generously donated by local restaurants. During his visit, William praised the organisation passionately, declaring, “there should be one in every single town.”

He spoke thoughtfully with senior mentor Jess Ioannou, recognising the crucial role early intervention plays in preventing future societal challenges such as homelessness. Jess shared her admiration for the Prince’s genuine interest, stating: “I think he could see the passion and drive. He said that early intervention was one of the most important things to prevent issues down the line such as homelessness or worse.”

Among those joining the conversation was Arsenal football star Reiss Nelson, currently on loan to Fulham, who has been closely connected to Mentivity since childhood. Reflecting warmly on his experiences, Reiss said: “He’s been a big part of my life. Growing up in an area where there’s not much going on, we are trying to give back. This is just the start, it’s growing and helping so many kids get off the streets.”

William, himself an avid Aston Villa supporter, joined teenagers for a friendly football match organised in his honour. Admitting with a laugh, “I’ll only be ten seconds, I’m terrible at this,” he cheerfully stepped aside after a few attempts as his team trailed 2-0.

Throughout the visit, the Prince emphasised the importance of having hobbies or activities to manage stress, admitting music often helps him relax after “a bit of a day.” He enthusiastically shared his own appreciation for discovering new music, saying, “I regularly go to Spotify to hear new artists.”

William also humorously complimented Sayce Holmes-Lewis, remarking playfully, “You’ve aged well, you moisturise well,” sparking laughter and camaraderie.

Clearly inspired by Mentivity’s remarkable impact, the Prince thoughtfully discussed how to extend their successful model nationally, remarking: “Looking around the rest of the country, I can’t think of a place that doesn’t need a Mentivity, and that’s troubling. How do you roll something like this out nationally?”

His enthusiasm was evident as he admitted the visit had set his mind racing with ideas for future support. “What can we do to build something bigger and have a bigger reach without diluting what you do? I’m already thinking about that,” he shared earnestly. “There are others like you, but very few. When I find them, I want to join all the dots.”