Kate and William surprise Londoners as they ride on Underground before heading to pub

The Prince and Princess of Wales travelled for around 20 minutes on the tube, with William "confidently" using his Oyster card to access the platform.

Visiting the Dog and Duck pub, the couple ordered a pint of side before getting stuck in behind the bar themselves.

They were then accompanied by pub managers Chris Watts and Maria Sojkova, with William pouring a “perfect pint”, according to waitress Bernie Kidson.

It was the first pint of Kingmaker, a pale ale brewed to celebrate the Coronation, ever poured.

During the visit, William told Watts he likes to visit pubs “out in the sticks” to enjoy watching football in a quieter atmosphere.

Speaking after the visit, which hundreds of fans lined the streets to watch, Mr Watts said William was “enjoying his drink” and “didn’t want to go”.

He added: “When we were sat down he said he was happy to sit here a little bit longer.

“He was saying he likes to go to the pub – he said he goes out into the sticks where it’s a bit quieter and enjoys watching football, chatting to people and talking.

“I don’t think he could do that here – it’d be quite busy.”

Kate meanwhile said their eldest child Prince George was “excited” about the upcoming coronation and had been taking part in rehearsals.

She said the atmosphere in the area was “wonderful” and that excitement for the coronation was “already starting to build”.

The Grade-II listed Dog and Duck, originally built in 1734, is one of the oldest pubs in Soho.

Its owners claim that the building has hosted several famous faces over the decades – from English poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti to George Orwell and later Madonna.

Area manager Mr Watts said he was “honoured” to welcome the prince and princess.

"To choose the Dog and Duck is amazing,” he said. “It has a lot of history in a bustling area like Soho, such a quaint pub. It is the perfect place."