Prince William yesterday snapped up a chance to catch up on the fortunes of his favourite football team when he met up with Aston Villa star Ashley Young.

The royal chatted with the England forward while visiting Kingshurst Sporting FC in Birmingham in his capacity as president of the Football Association.

After taking the time to chat with around 100 schoolchildren, many dressed in Sporting's red-and-white kit, William also met with the FA's director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking.

A keen Aston Villa supporter, the prince posed for a photograph with one of the 21 teams run by Sporting, which is taking part in a FA drive to improve standards of coaching.

Speaking to reporters after the 90-minute royal visit, Villa star Young confessed to being nervous when the prince first arrived.

He said: "It was an honour to meet him - he's such a down-to-earth guy and the nerves soon went after the first conversation that we had."

Earlier in the day Prince William confessed to being one of the art world's most elusive figures - Banksy.

The royal joked that he was the underground painter, who has covered buildings across the capital with his subversive artwork, during a visit to a famous exhibition space in London's East End.

William was opening the Whitechapel Gallery's ambitious £13.5m expansion project. Before unveiling a plaque to commemorate his visit the Prince told the Whitechapel's staff, trustees and supporters: "I'd just like to admit to something today - I'm actually Banksy.

The audience laughed and William added: "I thought that this would be a good forum to bring it out.

"Any autographs I will do afterwards."