London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Prince Charles has to step in when Prince William misses basketball hoop

Prince William needed a little helping hand from his dad today as he repeatedly tried – and failed – to shoot hoops during a rare joint royal visit.
The Duke of Cambridge joined in a game of wheelchair basketball alongside veterans at a new military rehabilitation centre.

He confidently wheeled up to the mark but proceeded to miss his target three times, to groans from patients, staff and even his own family.

Prince Charles then stepped in to aid his eldest son in a rare public display of camaraderie.

The Prince of Wales grasped the back of the wheelchair and moved it a few feet closer to the basket.

As William missed his fifth shot, Charles placed his hands around his son’s neck and jokingly shook him.

To raucous cheers it turned out to be sixth time lucky as the ball finally went in the hoop at the new state-of-the art Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) near Loughborough.

The visit was a very rare joint appearance by Charles, William alongside Camilla and Kate.

The facility, run by the Ministry of Defence, opened in October 2018 and provides rehab for military personnel suffering with battlefield or neurological illnesses and injuries.

The foursome met patients undergoing therapy, visited a prosthetics workshop and stopped to check out the gym where the wheelchair basketball game was underway.

Major Les Reid, who is at the centre after sustaining an ankle injury in a climbing accident, encouraged William to take his place in the match.

He recalled: ‘He wanted to try it and see how difficult it was. Which it is, as you can see – he needed some help from his dad. He got it on the last attempt.’

William was patron of the DMRC appeal and attended the official handover of the newly-built centre to the nation in June 2018.

The idea of the centre is a ‘dual approach’ to rehabilitation through both mental well-being and occupational health.

The Duke of Cambridge spoke to staff and noted that the patients would be ‘surrounded by their brothers’ in rehabilitation.

The four royals met patients and staff, including Lieutenant Colonel Andy Williams, of the RAF Regiment, who is undergoing treatment after a severe head injury sustained in a road accident.

His wife Sharon, from Bath, told Camilla that her husband, who is in a wheelchair, suffered a traumatic brain injury 19 months ago when a cement mixer crushed his vehicle.

The mother-of-four said: ‘I told her about Andy’s accident and how much of a positive effect this centre has really had. Instead of giving up on him, they try here.

‘They’re trying to get him to communicate. He held a pen and drew a picture, which we never thought we would see him do.’

The four royals are likely to have to increase their number of duties after Harry and Meghan stepped down from working life to pursue ‘financial independence’ in Canada.

Today, the Queen returned to London from her winter break at Sandringham while eldest grandson Peter Phillips announced he and his wife Autumn will divorce.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×