Watch: Prince William downs shot with Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney
The Prince of Wales has downed a shot of whiskey with Rob McElhenney, the American actor who co-owns Wrexham AFC, during a visit to Wales on St David’s Day.
The Prince, 41, was pictured drinking what appeared to be a shot of Four Walls Whiskey with McElhenney in The Turf pub next to Wrexham’s ground on Friday.
He also pulled a “terrible” pint, joking: “That might settle in a couple of hours, talk amongst yourselves.”
The pub’s landlord quipped that they could “soon knock him into shape”.
It was McElhenney who persuaded the Prince to down a shot of his own liquor brand, American Four Walls whiskey, which he made with his It’s Always Sunny co-stars.
He also told the Prince that Wrexham FC co-owner and fellow Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds had wanted to be there for his visit, but was unable to make it because he was busy putting the final edits to the latest instalment of his Deadpool movie series.
“Because Ryan’s not here you can tell him I think Hugh Jackman is funnier,” the Prince quipped.
McElhenney, who had flown into London from LA especially for the Prince’s visit to Wrexham FC, bought the club three years ago with Reynolds.
They have since made it world renowned thanks to their Disney+ documentary, We are Wrexham, which charted the club’s bid for promotion to the Football League after 15 years.
The Prince told McElhenney that he and Reynolds had created an “amazing culture” at Wrexham FC and that they had “energised” the Welsh town while doing so, giving hope to other teams that they could also “reclaim former glories”.
He added that they had picked “one of the most historic teams,” in a reference to Wrexham’s status as the third oldest football club in the world.
McElhenney said: “That was done by design. We wanted to find a team and a town that had history, but also one that was full of people that we could identify with.
“When I came here I recognised the people as being like people I grew up with, my dad came and said the same thing. There’s something very emotional about that.”
His visit to Wales came after he pulled out of the memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece, on Tuesday, citing personal reasons.
The Prince had been expected to give a reading at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and was named as such in the order of service. However, the late king’s elder son, Crown Prince Pavlos, stepped in instead.
The Prince was also given a daffodil by three-year-old Florence Boyle, from California, while meeting crowds outside the football club. He posed for a picture with the girl and her parents, who were visiting after watching the television documentary Welcome to Wrexham about McElhenney and fellow actor Ryan Reynolds buying the club.
While in the stadium, he was pictured smiling when he was presented with his own red Wrexham shirt with “William” printed on the back.
The Prince was visiting Wrexham on St David’s Day to celebrate Welsh culture and the city’s community spirit.
It came ahead of the King releasing a video message to mark Commonwealth Day as he is forced to miss the annual service due to his cancer diagnosis.
The broadcast is expected to hail the spirit of togetherness fostered by the 56 member states.
The King, 75, is also said to be keen to express his thanks to the thousands around the Commonwealth who have sent him get well soon messages.
The message, recorded at Windsor Castle, will be broadcast around the world.
