Prince Harry recently met New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, who invited the royal to come watch the team play and gave him a jersey.

Prince Harry Meets Carmelo Anthony

Anthony attended a reception at St. James’s Palace Wednesday for the NBA and Royal Foundation’s Core Coach program, which creates apprenticeships for young, unemployed men and women. The NBA star was there to present awards to those in the coaching program. While honoring the program’s standouts, Anthony felt honored merely to be in the company of royalty.

“It was an honor,” Anthony told ESPN. “You just don’t know what to expect. For me, walking into the room together, and the kids just laughing and joking, and he’s laughing and joking, just a warm welcome from him to me, it was an honor.”

“I never thought I would meet a prince. It’s royalty,” he added. “You can feel it when you come over. So for me to come over and be right there, you feel that energy, that vibe. You get that royal feeling.”

At St. James Palace, Anthony presented Prince Harry with a Knicks Jersey emblazoned with Wales on the back and a signed basketball sneaker. During their chat, Anthony invited Harry to come watch the Knicks play the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday. “He said he wants to,” Anthony said. “He would try. But I understand he’s a busy man.”

Kensington Palace tweeted out pictures and videos from the Core Coach program event throughout the day. Congolese basketball star Dikembe Mutombo and and British basketball player John Amaechi were present as well.