Prince William might just be on Kurtley Beale’s Christmas shopping list, after a hilarious Instagram snap of the pair went viral on Monday.
Beale, donning green and gold budgy smugglers with an Indigenous art design, was beaming next to the Prince, who is the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union.
The fullback almost offered to give his pair to the second in line to the British throne, but thought better of it.
“I asked him if he wanted my ones that I had on. I'm sure we'll be able to organise a pair if he wanted some for Christmas," he said.
Photos with the royal family usually have to be cleared before publishing but with the omnipresence of social media, Beale’s unorthodox post slipped through, creating a social media frenzy, for the candid nature of the snap, with Beale holding a cold beer and wearing the smugglers.
The Wallabies utility said it was just a coincidence that he was donning the togs when the picture was taken.
“I just came from the recovery room, I recover in ice baths,” he said.
“I love playing in my budgy smugglers, so they were the last things that I was wearing.
“I just happened to be taking it easy and it was pretty good to have a yarn with him in the sheds.”
Prince William had his own share of the banter in the sheds, comparing the moustaches of Beale and flyhalf Bernard Foley, with Beale claiming the win on that front.
“Prince William is a really good guy, he's pretty down to earth,” he said.
“He actually threw a few jokes around with Bernard and I, saying 'who had the better 'tache?'
“It was really good fun and it was nice to meet him.”
“He said I had the better 'tache.”
Fast forward two days and an opportune Instagram snap has turned into an international sensation, with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal picking up the post, photoshopping his own head onto Beale’s body.
“I didn't really realise how much it was going to take off. It's a bit of a surprise for me,” he said.
“It's good for the brand, I guess.".
O'Neal captioned his post with 'It was a pleasure to meet you Prince William' and Beale joined in on the action, replying to the post with a comment that read, 'looking good big boy...must be doing the same workout'.
Something that would be just as good for his brand is helping Australia to a win over England on Saturday, and Beale said there was plenty of work for them to do in the meantime.
Discipline was a major concern for Australia in Wales, losing the penalty count 15-3, and Beale admitted they needed to improve there.
“Discipline will be a key area that we'll be focusing on,” he said.
“When we did get penalised the boys responded really well and reacted to the situation in front of us.
“That's a huge testament to a lot of the guys out on the field, getting on with the next job and delivering.
“That was hugely important and it was great that it didn't really affect us in the end.”
Australia takes on England on Saturday November 18, kicking off at 3pm local, Sunday 2am AEDT, LIVE on beIN Sports and SBS.
