Peter Crouch confessed he was stumped for words when Prince Harry cheekily asked how the former footballer managed to woo Abbey Clancy. Crouch, who played for the likes of Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Tottenham during his two-decade-long career, has been with the model for over 20 years, tying the knot in 2011 after meeting in 2006 and quickly sparking a romance.
The Duke of Sussex poked fun at their unlikely pairing when he encountered the ex-England striker at a charity football game in 2015. Recounting the encounter to Jack Whitehall on The Graham Norton Show, Crouch shared the Royal’s playful banter: “I was playing a charity game and he came into the dressing room and was meeting everyone. He was really friendly to everyone and then when I met him, he said, ‘Crouchy’, I said ‘Yes,’ and he said, ‘How did you bag Abbey Clancy?'”
Crouch, 44, admitted he was caught off guard. He continued: “Which I have to say left me taken aback. I’m not normally lost for words, but on this occasion, I didn’t know what to say.
“I totally froze and then he was gone.” While Crouch acknowledged he would have had a witty comeback about the Prince’s own love life with Meghan Markle, the timing wasn’t right as the Royal couple hadn’t yet become an item.
Crouch remarked: “And that was obviously pre-Meghan, so now I could have had a go back at him to be fair!” Prince Harry‘s comment elicited hearty laughter from Jamie Carragher and David James, who were also present at the charity football match.
He continued: “David and Jamie obviously thought it was hilarious and were laughing their heads off and, in retrospect, perhaps I should have said something like, ‘That’s a bit rich coming from a short balding ginger guy,’ but I didn’t.” In addition to his punditry work, Crouch has made a name for himself in the podcast world with his That Peter Crouch Podcast and The Therapy Crouch podcast, the latter of which is co-hosted by his wife.
Crouch shared the story of how he first met Abbey at a birthday party, admitting he was in awe of her beauty. “Ab came over to me,” he reminisced to her. “It was insane. I couldn’t pull a hamstring in London. I went up to Liverpool and then you came over and I was like, ‘Wow – this place is incredible.’
“You came over, and this sounds corny, but I have never seen a more beautiful girl in my life. I always remember your eyes. Your mum has got them as well. They’re incredible.”