Prince William Plays Rugby in South Africa (& I Noticed Something Surprising About His Body Language)

Today, Prince William visited Ocean View Secondary School in Cape Town, South Africa, where he participated in a friendly game of rugby with the students. I’ve seen the royal looking uncomfortable and out of his element before—and this was not that. Instead, the Prince of Wales appeared cool, calm and collected as he played with the children. 

Prince William didn’t let his professional attire get in the way. He was photographed bending down, chasing the kids and laughing while trying to retrieve the ball. His shoulders were relaxed and his knees were bent, both of which indicate the royal was at ease.

Prince William opted against his go-to dress shoes and wore a pair of suede sneakers. Similar to his flag football outing, there was likely a hidden meaning behind the royal’s footwear. According to body language expert and human lie detector Darren Stanton, his casual footwear symbolizes an effort to fit in. 

Perhaps Prince William felt comfortable playing rugby because it’s been a part of his life for so long. (FYI, he’s been patron of the Welsh Rugby Union since 2016.) Or maybe he was overdue for a little child’s play. Regardless, it’s nice to see Prince William letting loose after the difficult year his family had. 

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