Prince William pleasantly surprised soccer enthusiasts by buying a round of drinks during his initial public appearance since his wife Princess Kate Middleton disclosed her recovery from cancer.
The 42-year-old Prince sat at a table within a Wetherspoons pub in Birmingham, engaging with Aston Villa supporters before they attended a game against Everton on January 15.
William’s visit came after a nearby visit to the College of Paramedics conference. He was named patron of the organization on the same day.
His visit to the pub was organized by the soccer club, following William’s request to connect with some of its dedicated fans, as stated by a spokesperson from Kensington Palace to Us Weekly.
The spokesperson also confirmed that the prince paid for a round of drinks for the soccer fans in attendance.
The royal was waiting for his train home when he stopped at the pub — which is located inside the Birmingham New Street train station — according to The Sun’s Royal Editor, Matt Wilkinson.
“You’ve got to be British, I think, to understand the cultural significance of a future king in the ‘spoons!” the Daily Mail‘s Royal Editor, Rebecca English, wrote on X, referencing the nickname for the well-known pub chain.
Daniel Jones, an 18-year-old student who was at the pub, told BBC News that William was a “lovely guy, proper down to earth” who loved the soccer team “and the passion we all share.”
“I think if he didn’t have other commitments he would have loved to be at the match,” Jones said.
Meanwhile, John McEvoy, a 64-year-old business owner, described William as a “really nice, genuine” person.
“He said he would be watching the match on TV tonight,” McEvoy told the BBC.
William’s outing came one day after the Princess of Wales announced she was in remission while visiting the hospital where she was treated for cancer on Tuesday, January 14.
“I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year,” Kate wrote in an Instagram post.
“My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything,” the princess added. “We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional.”
“It is a relief to now be in remission,” she shared later in the post. “And I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”
