Prince William stopped traffic outside Buckingham Palace for star cricket

Prince William brought a touch of cricket to one of London’s most iconic landmarks on Tuesday, turning The Mall, the ceremonial route leading to Buckingham Palace, into an impromptu pitch as he joined the sport’s leading figures to promote his Earthshot Climate Prize.

Usually associated with royal parades and major national celebrations, the wide red-surfaced avenue took on a different look when the Prince of Wales took up the bat for an informal game alongside several prominent cricketers.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, West Indies great Brian Lara and England captain Joe Root and other current and former international players among others addressed the meeting.

With Buckingham Palace providing a spectacular backdrop, William, dressed in a shirt and jumper, hit a series of fine deliveries bowled by Ganguly. He also stopped to take a selfie with the spectators who had gathered to watch the unusual sporting spectacle.

Prince William joins the Clipstone Cricket Club team at The Mall for a friendly cricket session which highlights community sport and local involvement. Princess of Wales (@KateMiddeltonuk) October 13, 2026

“He was batting well. He’s better than me at the moment because I picked up a cricket bat for the first time in eight or nine years. He was so friendly with everyone, simple and down to earth.”

“India will give him a warm welcome. He is such a nice person, smiling and shaking everyone’s hands.”

While his batting was highly praised by Ganguly and Joe Root, Brian Lara criticized William’s bowling, saying it still needed work.

“He’s underrated; he’s a big football fan, he said he doesn’t know much about cricket. His bowling needs a lot of work, but his batting? I’d put him as a number six or seven batsman, definitely in the starting XI,” Lara said.

The initiative was aimed at strengthening the cricketing bond between India and Britain, with India next month hosting the annual Earthshot Award Summit and Awards, founded by Prince William.

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