Luke Humphries collected his MBE from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle yesterday, and the darts star couldn't help but chat about his beloved sport with royalty.
The former world champion, who triumphed over teenage sensation Luke Littler to claim the title in 2024, was honoured for his services to darts.
Humphries, known by fans as Cool Hand, told the Press Association that discovering he'd been selected for the honour came as "a big surprise" and represented the "biggest honour" of his career.
The 30-year-old called it his "greatest achievement" – quite something for a player with such an impressive trophy collection.
Luke Humphries spoke with Prince William after being awarded the MBE
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When William asked where he should go to experience darts at its finest, Humphries had a clear answer ready.
"I just told him Alexandra Palace, you know he obviously knows where that place is and it's the biggest tournament in the world," the player explained.
The north London venue, affectionately dubbed Ally Pally, transforms into a sea of fancy dress and festive cheer during the World Championship each year.
Humphries reckons William would absolutely love the atmosphere, but acknowledged the reality of royal life gets in the way.
"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," he added.
Luke Humphries revealed that Prince William told him he loves the darts, but royal life forces him away from the raucous atmospheres
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Humphries believes the recognition reflects how he and Littler have genuinely transformed the sport's image over recent years.
"Since I have been involved in darts, I've brought a different crowd of people, a younger generation," he shared.
The pair have been the dominant forces in the game for the past two to three years, drawing in masses of new fans.
"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," Humphries continued.
He thinks that fresh perspective on darts is precisely why both players received their honours.
Luke Humphries, who lost his World Championship crown to Luke Littler, has high hopes of reclaiming his title
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Despite losing his world number one ranking to Littler in November after holding the top spot for nearly two years, Humphries heads into the PDC World Championship feeling supremely confident.
The tournament kicks off at Alexandra Palace today, with Humphries set to face Ted Evetts in his opening match on Saturday evening.
"I feel like I'm playing better darts than I ever have," he said, pointing to his recent performances at the World Grand Prix, European Championship and Grand Slam as evidence.
While Littler remains a formidable opponent, particularly in longer formats, Humphries believes he can reclaim his world title if he maintains his current form.