Chelsea's Cole Palmer Incognito at Million-Person Notting Hill Carnival

Chelsea and England striker Cole Palmer attended the Notting Hill Carnival in west London while going incognito with a disguise that included faux dreadlocks, a rasta cap, and a face mask, allowing him to blend in with the crowd and enjoy the celebrations without drawing attention. The carnival, which celebrates Caribbean culture and attracts around a million people, was particularly meaningful for Palmer due to his Caribbean heritage, as his grandfather was born on the island of St Kitts. Palmer shared images and videos of the event on Instagram, captioning one photo simply as “Blendinggg.” His visit came shortly after he missed Chelsea’s 5-1 victory over West Ham due to a groin injury sustained during warm-up, with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirming Palmer was not fully fit in recent days. The event was marked by vibrant parades representing Caribbean, African, and Brazilian diasporas, though police reported over 400 arrests during the carnival, including for offensive weapons, and two non-life-threatening stabbings. Palmer’s disguise and participation highlighted his desire to embrace his cultural roots while enjoying some downtime away from the spotlight.