Prince William pulls St David’s Day pint on Wrexham visit

The Prince of Wales pulled a pint with Wrexham AFC’s Hollywood owner Rob McElhenney to mark St David’s Day.

Prince William visited the Turf pub, featured in the Welcome to Wrexham series and the Racecourse Ground, on Friday morning.

During the visit, he was asked about the condition of his wife, Catherine, but he did not respond.

Speculation has been growing since the Princess of Wales underwent abdominal surgery.

At The Turf pub, the prince met local charity volunteers, pub regulars and landlord Wayne Jones.

He then walked from the pub into the Racecourse Ground next door, where he met Wrexham AFC players, Ben Tozer and Luke Young, who were training there.

The duo gave him a club shirt with “William” on the back.

The future King said Wrexham was every football fan’s second club as he downed a shot of whiskey and pulled a pint in the supporters’ home bar – and joked it needed time to settle.

“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,” he said.

Prince William was gifted with a Wrexham club shirt with “William” on the back

“And anyone who’s a true football fan wants to see you do well.”

Mr Jones described his latest brush with celebrity as “bizarre” after welcoming Prince William to his pub on Friday morning.

“You honestly don’t know who’s going to turn up next,” said Mr Jones, reflecting on the popularity the club has gained since being bought by Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.

Mr Jones said the visit had allowed the prince to meet representatives from several local charities supported by the community, such as the Nightingale House and Hope House hospices.

Prince WiIliam and Rob McElhenney enjoy a drink

The prince told him he was “rooting” for Wrexham as they push for a second straight promotion and a place in League One, he added.

He said he was grateful McElhenney had been in the pub to meet the Prince too, as he “was a little nervous”, while McElhenney is “a natural at these things”.

He said the royal visit “shines a good positive light on Wrexham”.

Prince William also called in at Ysgol yr Holl Saint, or All Saints School, in Gresford.

Pupils there performed folk songs and dances for him while wearing traditional costumes.

Commenting on the outfit of four-year-old Esme Dale, who wore a collar-sized daffodil around her neck, he said: “I like your daffodil, that’s amazing.”

Prince William visited pupils at Ysgol yr Holl Saint in Gresford

The prince also donned an apron to have a go at stirring a mix for bara brith and was presented with a loaf to take home.

As he left he was given three Welsh dragon toys to pass on to his children George, Charlotte and Louis.

“The children will like these when I come home with these guys,” said the prince.

Accepting a bouquet of flowers, he added: “I’ll pass those on to Catherine.”

Meanwhile, King Charles is to take on the role of Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Welsh regiment, in succession to the late Queen who held this role for 16 years.

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