As an avowed Aston Villa supporter, Prince William may not have been too impressed, but the football team's premiership rivals Newcastle United were clearly delighted when the second-in-line's father Prince Charles joined them for a kick-about.
The Prince Of Wales is better-known for his love of polo, but on Wednesday afternoon he was trying his hand at a rather more accessible sport. After meeting legendary soccer players Alan Shearer and Michael Owen, the 58-year-old put his own skills to the test and managed to score a goal from the penalty spot.
Afterwards the VIP guest was presented with a black and white Newcastle United jersey with the letters "HRH" emblazoned across the back. Later in the day the future king, who is currently visiting the northern city with his wife Camilla, made an equally memorable impression on the youngsters at a nearby primary school, too.
Teacher Georgina Dunn said her young students were mesmerised when Charles read them a story by Rudyard Kipling. "He did it wonderfully – the children were just captivated," she revealed. "He had wonderful poise and control – he showed them the pictures and he explained the difficult words to them."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
