Prince William has marked St David’s Day on Friday by pulling a pint and downing a shot with Wrexham FC co-owner, Hollywood actor Ryan McElhenney.
The Prince of Wales visited The Racehorse Ground stadium before stopping off for a tipple at supporters’ home bar, The Turf pub.
He declared Wrexham FC are every football fan’s second club, hailing their “great success story“.
William, 41, quizzed die-hard fans about their team’s fairytale journey after McElhenney, best known for appearing in the comedy series, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and fellow actor, Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, took ownership of the club in 2021 and revived its fortunes.
The future king praised the club’s achievements which saw it promoted to the Football League after a 15-year absence.
He said: “It’s a great success story you’re building here, everything you’ve started and achieved, it’s fantastic, so onwards and upwards – it’s exciting.
“And anyone who’s a true football fan wants to see you do well,” he added.
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Reynolds was unable to travel from the US for the royal visit due to him editing the latest instalment of the Deadpool movie series.
McElhenney and tenant landlord, Wayne Jones, took William behind the bar where he attempted to pull a pint of the popular Madri lager.
His first effort, all foam, was deemed “horrendous” by the prince – who admitted his second try was not much better.
“Still got a horrible head on it, that’s why I don’t work behind the bar,” he joked, adding: “That might settle in about an hour, talk among yourselves.”
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The prince also visited Ysgol Yr Holl Saint/All Saint’s School in Wrexham to find out how pupils are celebrating St David’s Day and being taught about local Welsh history and cultural traditions.
He was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a dragon soft-toy at the end of his tour.
Later on, William attended the nearby Gresford Colliery Disaster Memorial – established to honour the 266 lives lost in an underground fire and explosion in 1934, in one of Britain’s worst coal mining disasters.
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He also met with Ruby McBurney, a surviving child of one of the victims.
The King and Queen toured Wrexham in December 2022 to celebrate its new city status, granted to eight communities as part of the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
Camilla described Wrexham FC’s story as “extraordinary”, while the King said the club was “busy putting Wrexham on the map as never before”.
