Luke Littler offered the Prince of Wales tickets for the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace after meeting Prince William at Windsor Castle last Tuesday, saying the royal had been following his rise and thought the tournament looked like a good night out.
The 19-year-old, who collected an MBE for his contribution to darts last Tuesday, said the conversation turned quickly to the sport that has made him one of its biggest names. “Prince William said he's been following the journey and we were just talking about how darts has blown up,” Littler said. “He even said himself it looks like a good night out, so maybe we'll see Prince William at Ally Pally this year!”
Littler, the world No 1 in darts, was back in the spotlight after his Windsor Castle visit, where he described the ceremony as “a crazy experience.” He said he had not extended a formal invite, but added: “I didn't invite him, but if he needs a few tickets I'm sure myself or the PDC will sort some.”
That meeting came as Littler prepared to return to the oche for the Premier League Darts Finals Night at 7pm on Thursday. He said he planned to let his darts do the talking after a season in which he has been booed at Alexandra Palace in December and jeered again in Liverpool, Brighton, Sheffield and at competitions in Europe.
The reaction has followed him in a way that few players in the sport have had to absorb. Alexandra Palace, in north London, is the home of the World Darts Championship and the place where Littler has become one of the game’s defining figures. The backlash has not stopped his rise, but it has become part of the atmosphere around his matches.
Littler said he had been ready for it. “Obviously they don't usually come to people so young, but for what I've done for my sport, it's been incredible and the notice has been fantastic,” he said. “The only way to deal with it is to put your head down and win - and that's what I've done.”
For Littler, the Windsor encounter was more than a ceremonial photo call. It underlined how far darts has travelled and how quickly the teenager has become central to that story. For Prince William, it opened the door to a possible debut at Ally Pally later this year. For Littler, the immediate task is simpler: arrive on Thursday, play his game and keep the noise where he wants it — in the crowd, not in his head.
Luke Littler Mbe: Prince William presents darts star honour at Windsor Castle
