Beth Mead says Prince William is ‘lovely’ and ‘down to earth’, but doesn’t like ‘all the stuff around him’

Lioness Beth Mead has shared her thoughts on Prince William, describing him as ‘lovely’ and ‘down to earth’.

The Arsenal and England player, 29, from Whitby, who was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) last year, added that Prince William is ‘football mad’.

However, Beth said William ‘doesn’t like all the stuff that comes around him’, explaining: ‘Obviously, he’s got all of his bodyguards around, but he just says, “Oh, I don’t need it!” and he just loves football.’

She explained how William, who is the president of the football association and an avid Aston Villa fan, awarded her MBE last year in the New Years Honours list for her services to football.

She told Hello: ‘It was so nice to see his face light up when he saw someone that he could talk football with.’

Beth has met William on several occasions, with the father-of-three also giving Beth her player of the tournament trophy during the Euros final at Wembley Stadium in 2022.

The royal has repeatedly proved his love of the game, having also supported the men’s England team at the Euros, as well as his team Aston Villa throughout the years.

When Prince William watched the Three Lions take on Switzerland at Dusseldorf Arena in July, it wasn’t just his intense concentration that gave away his love of football.

In a custom becoming increasingly common for the Prince of Wales, 42, he hinted at his love of the sport through his attire.

While William went without typical football merchandise, he managed to show his support with a £185 football print silk tie from the Italian luxury fashion house, Ferragamo.

It comes after Prince William sported his new beard in uniform for the first time as he undertook military duties on behalf of his father last Thursday.

The heir to the throne was attending the Sovereign’s Parade at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, in his Wing Commander’s Uniform for an officers’ graduation ceremony.

Royal Air Force personnel were only allowed to grow beards under new rules aiming to promote inclusivity in September 2019.

Regulations were changed to allow serving members to wear ‘a smart, neatly-trimmed, full set beard’. The RAF has insisted members still have to maintain ‘high standards of appearance’.

‘Scraggly or patchy beards will not be accepted,’ a Ministry of Defence spokesman said at the time. A century-old ban was only lifted for the Army in March of this year.

William has sported whiskers since August, leading to it being dubbed his ‘summer beard’. But by the looks of it – and the length – it may be here to stay.

Royal men have traditionally only sported beards fleetingly in recent years as Queen Elizabeth was not said to be a fan.

William, 42, was also accompanied by his aunt, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, for the event.

The sister of his late mother, Princess Diana, lives in the area and it is understood she wanted to come and show ‘her support’.

She lives 15 miles from RAF Cranwell, in Grantham, and served a one-year term as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 2009.

It comes after William and his estranged brother, Prince Harry, both attended their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes’ funeral last month.

Harry went on to stay at the Spencer’s ancestral home, Althorp, with Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, on the 27th anniversary of his mother’s death, leading to much conjecture about his closeness with the family, as opposed to the Windsors.

William arrived for the two hour ceremony by car, inspected the graduates and took the salute before handing prizes to the college’s ‘top guns’.

The prince passed his officer training at Sandhurst but gained his ‘wings’ at Cranwell after flight training in 2008.

He also delivered an address to the new officers on the parade ground, saying: ‘We live in a time of change and uncertainty, and you, as the future of the Royal Air Force, are the ones who will ensure that we are able to adapt and face future threats.’

Speaking about his time at the RAF training base, he said: ‘I am delighted to see so many family and friends here – I know their love and support will have been instrumental in getting you to this point.