Prince William uses a 'secret name' online to follow the latest Aston Villa news and rumors on fan forums, a fellow supporter has revealed.
The Prince of Wales, a regular visitor to Villa Park with his son Prince George, told how he has taken his fandom to the next level while using a pseudonym to protect his identity online.
William, chairman of the English Football Association, is one of Villa's most famous supporters and has been spotted several times at the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground chatting to boss Unai Emery.
His love for the club and fans' message boards was outlined by fellow 'Villain', who spoke to the royal family while enjoying a few pre-match drinks in a Wetherspoons pub at Birmingham New Street station, ahead of their meeting with Everton on Wednesday.
Fan Steve Jones told the Athletic: 'He said he keeps up to date with Villa gossip because he's on all the fan forums.
“He has different names and posts there because that gives him a sense of what's going on and what the opinion is.”
Mr Jones was contacted by the club to meet William but was not told who he would be meeting as he was only given a time and place.
He and the other fans were told to 'call him whatever you want' as the prince was off duty and there on his 'own time'.
The Prince of Wales, pictured at Villa Park, claims he has taken his fandom to the next level by using a pseudonym to protect his identity online
Prince William surprised day drinkers when he stopped by for a pint at Wetherspoons on his way back from an official engagement
Jones said: “He came in and he wasn't surrounded by a whole lot of security, just one of his assistants.
'Bold as a buyer, he introduced himself, shook everyone's hands and said: “Okay, shall we go for a round?”'.
William bought a round of beer for eight Villa fans and drank a pint of Bulmers cider. He stayed there for about half an hour before catching the train back to London.
Steve said: 'We were contacted by the club and said that Prince William wanted to meet a delegation of Villa fans while he was in Birmingham as he wanted to keep up to date with everything happening at Villa.
'He was fantastic. I was quite surprised at how involved he was in the club, his interest. He is not a fan of nice weather. He really loves the club with passion.
'We talked about the club, the transfers, the upcoming Champions League trip to Monaco and everything to do with Aston Villa. He asked a lot of questions – he has a good interest.
'It was 95 percent of the conversations about Villa, because that's our shared interest, but a little bit about his family. Young George is a Villa fan, but he didn't want all three of them to be Villa fans.
Although Charlotte and Louis have expressed interest in England, they have not discussed supporting a club.
The Prince bought a round of beer for eight Villa fans, including Daniel Jones (pictured), and had a pint of Bulmers cider, before staying for about half an hour before catching the train back to London.
The future king was spotted at the Birmingham New Street Station branch of the popular pub chain after appearing at an event to mark his new role as patron of the College of Paramedics.
William apparently wanted to speak to Aston Villa fans like him before the team played Everton, and sipped a pint of cider
Meanwhile, George, 11, has been spotted with his dad at Aston Villa matches.
Last year Mike Tindall, 45, who is married to King Charles' niece Zara, said: 'George loves his football.'
He added: 'He is also passionate about Aston Villa. Wherever he is, he's going to sit down and watch that game.”
One of the punters at The London and North Western was Daniel Jones, a sixth form student from Burntwood in Staffordshire.
“He was a nice guy,” the 18-year-old said. 'Pretty down to earth and he loves Villa and the passion we all share.
Earlier at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre, Prince William received his best wishes for his wife Catherine as he chatted to paramedics about issues such as training, drones and hospital waiting times.
As he arrived at the Birmingham Conference and Events Center and greeted his hosts, he said: “I'll watch the game and keep an eye on what's going on.”
As he took to the stage, the Prince made another reference to the match, saying: “It's great to be back in Birmingham, and to all the fellow Villa fans with us today – I look forward to seeing our to celebrate victory over Everton…
Prince William looked dapper in a black slim-fit coat and opted for a smart matching black suit, crisp white shirt, navy blue tie and brown suede loafers
They both pumped their fists in joy after Cole Palmer's superb equalizer in the 73rd minute
Speaking about his new role, he said: 'I am so pleased to stand here as the new Patron of the College of Paramedics and have the opportunity to participate in your first ever Emergency and Critical Care Conference.
'Often referred to as the 'Swiss army knife' of primary care, paramedics and emergency services people are flexible, multi-qualified and, crucially, know how to work under pressure.
'These pressures were something I was all too familiar with during my time as a pilot for RAF Search and Rescue and for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
“My time in these roles gave me a better understanding of the daily challenges you all face, and the lifelong motivation to do whatever I can to support your community. It's not just a job.
'Every day offers unpredictable challenges. Every scream is a journey into the unknown. Every split-second decision has an immeasurable impact on so many people.”
