The Prince of Wales visited the Wetherspoon pub to join other Aston Villa fans for a pint and chat about the club ahead of an upcoming game.

Prince William was among eight supporters gathered around a group of tables in a Birmingham pub on Wednesday before all season ticket holders headed out to watch the club's away game against Everton.

He drank a pint of Bullmouth cider and they talked about their beloved club for about 30 minutes, although the bar staff were tight-lipped about who paid for the round of drinks.

One fan said the prince was a "real guy who really loves Villa" and he also weighed in on the Premier League game, saying he "thinks it will be a tough game".

The prince organized a pub tour to London and North West Wetherspoon inside Birmingham New Street station after he asked the football club to arrange a get-together with some die-hard supporters.

Daniel Jones, 18, a sixth-form student from Burntwood, Staffordshire, said the prince was a "lovely guy, down to earth" who "loved the villa and our shared passion" ".

"I think if he had no other commitments he would be happy to play," he added.

John McEvoy, 64, from Solihull, who runs a catering equipment company, said: "William said a family friend took him to his first game - Villa v Bolton - He's fallen in love with the team ever since.

"He said he would be watching the game on TV tonight. He is a very good, genuine lad who really likes Villa."

A win in the game, which kicks off at 19:30 GMT, will see Aston Villa move up to seventh in the Premier League table.

The Merseyside club face a tough test against 16th-placed Everton after they reappointed former manager David Moyes.

Mr McEvoy added: "William thinks it's going to be a tough game tonight because (Everton) have got their old manager back and when they change managers the team will bounce back ”

Prince in the city before visiting Villa fans Attend School of Nursing's inaugural Emergency and Critical Care Conferencewas appointed patron.

The Prince is a lifelong Aston Villa fan and began supporting the club while still at school.

"A long time ago, at school, I became passionate about football. I looked around for clubs. All my friends at school were either Manchester United or Chelsea fans and I didn't want to follow in the footsteps of the ordinary teams," He told the BBC in 2015.

"I'm hoping having a mid-table team will give me more of an emotional rollercoaster moment."

Earlier this season, he lost his voice This was the club's first home game in the Champions League in 41 years, as the team defeated Germany's Bayern Munich 1-0.