Luke Humphries has opened up on what he told Prince William when he received his MBE at Windsor Castle on Wednesday with the former world number one receiving the award
21:11, 10 Dec 2025
Luke Humphries received his MBE from the Prince of Wales on Wednesday(Image: PA)
Darts star Luke Humphries has disclosed the conversation he had with the Prince of Wales after being honoured with an MBE at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The former world number one received the prestigious award from William in recognition of his outstanding contribution to sport.
The 30 year old, who is gearing up for the start of the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace this week, faces Ted Evetts in his opening match on Saturday evening. Humphries, whose trophy cabinet includes numerous major titles, revealed he recommended ‘Ally Pally’ to William as the ultimate venue for experiencing the sport first hand.
Yet he acknowledged that security arrangements would make it challenging for the Prince to attend in person. “We just talked about darts and he sort of asked me about where’s the best place to watch darts and where would the best place he would come to darts,” he explained.
“I just told him Alexandra Palace, you know he obviously knows where that place is and it’s the biggest tournament in the world. “I think he’d probably love to come to be fair, if it wasn’t so much of the protocols that he’d have to face to come.
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“But, yeah, if he could ever turn up and watch I’m sure he’d really enjoy it, but unfortunately it’s not as easy as that for him to just turn up and watch us, but I’m sure he watches at home.
Humphries, who described his MBE as the “biggest honour” of his career, expressed his delight at the recognition. “Since I have been involved in darts, I’ve brought a different crowd of people, a younger generation,” he shared.
“Obviously, alongside Luke Littler as well, we’ve been the two big forces in darts over the last two to three years.” Humphries, together with Littler, is considered one of the top contenders for the 2025 World Championship.
“We’ve changed the whole dynamic of the sport as well,” he continued. “A lot of people just look at it like a pub game, whereas now I think people are sort of seeing it for really what it is, and that’s a major sport.
Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are the two favourites for the World Championship
“I think that that is the reason as to why we’ve both actually got one because it brought that new meaning to darts.” Speaking about his rapport with the young prodigy, Humphries added: “We kind of are rivals on the dartboard but off it we get on really well, it’s a healthy relationship.”
The Englishman has enjoyed a successful 2025 having won his first Premier League title and the PDC Triple Crown, including the World Championship and the World Matchplay. However, Littler recently replaced him as world number one ahead of the World Championship.
“I feel like I’m playing better darts than I ever have,” he said. “I think my stats from the World Grand Prix, European Championship and the Grand Slam were the best I’ve ever had in those tournaments.
“At this year’s Grand Slam, my numbers were better than the year I won it in 2023. It was the same at the World Grand Prix, and my stats from the European Championship were the best they’ve ever been.”
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