Prince William Shuts Down the Mall for Cricket and Sidesteps a Kiss
The Prince of Wales turned the Mall into a cricket pitch outside Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, then politely turned aside a kiss from a fan during the walkabout that followed. It was sport first and handshakes second.
Prince William batted in an informal game dubbed 'Cricket on the Mall' with England Test captain Joe Root and former England bowler Sir James Anderson, while traffic was held back from the famous road. The appearance took place on 13 October, according to footage published by CTV News. The road closure on a route usually busy with traffic was reported by Reuters.
Stumps went down on the tarmac. A small crowd gathered close to watch.
The game was played in the build-up to the Earthshot Prize awards in Mumbai next month. The Earthshot Prize is the annual environmental awards project linked to the prince, which honours new ideas to protect the planet. For readers new to it, think green inventions and restoration projects competing for high-profile prizes.
After the cricket, William crossed to the barriers to greet royal fans who had lined the street. A walkabout is the informal part of a royal visit, a slow walk along the crowd with handshakes and photographs. One well-wisher tugged his shoulder to pull him in for a kiss on the cheek, as described by Hello!. William smiled, shook his head in amusement and moved on to the next group.
He laughed it off. There was no fuss and no intervention, just a quick shake of the head and a return to handshakes.
What makes this stand out is the contrast. Minutes earlier he had been mid-pitch with two of England's well-known cricketers. Moments later he was navigating that very modern test of fame, a crowd with phones up and one fan hoping for a kiss.
For fans, this means two keepsakes from one outing. There are the photographs of a prince playing ball on an empty Mall, a sight London rarely offers. And there is the small human exchange on the barriers, politely declined and instantly shared.
It was brief. It was good-natured. It travelled fast.
