Prince William displays ball skills in kickabout with children in Shangai | Royal | News | Daily Express
Prince William shows off his ball skills during a kickabout in Shanghai | Daily Mail OnlineHE's an avid Aston Villa fan and president of the Football Association, so it was no surprise that Prince William was keen to get involved in a kickabout during a football masterclass in Shanghai.
The Duke of Cambridge saw the youngsters being put through their paces by British coaches when he visited Nanyang High School in Shanghai.
As the Prince, 32, went in for a penalty excited children looked on and after taking it, one child couldn't contain his enthusiasm and rushed over to give William a high five.
The five-a-side kickabout came on the third day of the Prince's high-profile visit to China - the first time a senior royal has visited the country since the Queen made a trip in 1986.
He's Aston Villa's most famous fan and the president of the England FA to boot so when Prince William was offered the chance of a kickabout in Shanghai, he was quick to take up the offer.
The Prince was visiting the Nanyang High School and was invited to watch local children being taught football skills by British coaches.
Watched by the excited children, William teed up a penalty and, after taking it, beamed as an excited child rushed up to give him a high five.
Football is about to become part of the national curriculum in China, and the British Council runs a scheme called Premier Skills which fosters a passion for the game.
The Prince was shown around by Paul Hughes, 33, a former coach at Reading FC, Millwall and Southampton, who now travels the world passing on his experience to local coaches under the British Council scheme.
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