King Charlestried his hand at American football as he visited Tottenham Hotspur’s £1billion stadium on Wednesday morning.

Charles, 76, appeared in fine form as he returned smiles and waved to local schoolchildren who had been chanting ‘we want the King’ before his arrival.

He toured the 62,850-capacity ground in North London to celebrate the club’s “charitable” work, which includes a partnership with America’s National Football League (NFL) and the local North London community.

Spurs’s ground not only hosts Tottenham Hotspur but also regular season NFL games.

In the players’ tunnel, the King met men’s and women’s captains Heung-Min Son and Bethany England.

Charles asked Son, 32, how the team was doing and the forward replied: “Difficult moments, but working hard.”

Spurs are currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League and out of both domestic cups.

The King was given a huge cheer from children enthusiastically waving Spurs flags in the stands as he emerged through the players’ tunnel onto the pitch.

British NFL player Efe Obada and captain of Team GB Women’s Flag Football team and NFL Global Flag Ambassador, Phoebe Schecter then gave him a crash course on how to throw an American Football.

Charles then tried throwing the ball at a net with hoops as targets, sadly falling short. But Efe, 32, who plays Defensive End for the Washington Commanders in the NFL hailed the King’s efforts and willingness to get stuck in.

“I loved his energy, the fact that he came in here willing to get stuck in,” he said. “His technique was immense. I wanted him to get a hoop, in the target, but he was just having a good time. We talked about the NFL and he’s a fan. He’s going to watch the games.”

The King then watched a demonstration by young people involved in The Huddle Project, a programme launched in 2023 by Tottenham Hotspur, the NFL and Nike.

Afterwards, Charles was presented with a replica of Tottenham’s historic original golden cockerel statue and an American football from Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Inside the stadium, Charles met community groups and local businesses that have benefited from the opportunities provided by the new stadium.

This included young people who live and work in Tottenham and are supported by The King’s Trust, a youth charity founded by His Majesty as Prince of Wales in 1976.

He met Gina Moffatt, 48, who was jailed for smuggling drugs but turned her life around with help from the King’s Trust, formerly the Prince’s Trust, and now runs a successful restaurant in Tottenham employing 15 full-time staff.

She said to him: “I’m so excited that you’re even back in Tottenham, this year’s looking all good, Tottenham Hotspur‘s doing great stuff.

The 48-year-old made Charles laugh when she said: “We’ve got Beyonce coming but you’re bigger than Beyonce.”

Beyonce is performing six nights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June.