Everton manager David Moyes received his OBE from Prince William at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, marking their first meeting and sparking a conversation about football.
The 62-year-old revealed discussions with the Prince of Wales centred on Aston Villa's recent success, particularly their Champions League campaign.
"I also talked to him about Aston Villa and how well they have done over the last couple of years, and how much he is enjoying seeing his team doing well," Moyes said.
The Everton boss highlighted the Royal Family's enthusiasm for football, noting both Prince William and his eldest son Prince George share the passion.
"He's certainly mad keen on his football and so is his son, so it made it extra special to receive the award from him," Moyes told PA.
The Scot discovered he had been awarded the honour in unusual circumstances whilst attending his grandson's nativity performance.
He had not been checking post as his mother-in-law was gravely ill at the time.
He explained: "I was actually at my grandson's nativity and I'd got a call from the Home Office.
"My mother-in-law wasn't well, she was dying at the time, and we hadn't opened up the mail for a wee while you know, we'd been concentrating on my mother-in-law."
The 62-year-old revealed discussions with the Prince of Wales centred on Aston Villa's recent success, particularly their Champions League campaign.
PA
Initially sceptical of the call, Moyes asked his wife Pam to verify the correspondence.
He said: "I didn't believe them. I can sometimes get quite a lot of phone calls which you don't always believe. I went back, we checked, and I've got to say it was a big moment for both me and my wife. It was emotional."
The three-time LMA Manager of the Year winner attended the ceremony with his wife Pam, son David and daughter Lauren.
The honour continues a family tradition, as his father had previously been awarded an MBE.
"My dad was previously awarded an MBE, and now I've got an OBE too, so it's something we are all really proud of as a family," Moyes told Everton's website.
The manager, who has overseen 716 Premier League matches - a tally exceeded only by Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson - returned to Everton in January for his second spell.
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The manager, who has overseen 716 Premier League matches - a tally exceeded only by Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson - returned to Everton in January for his second spell.
He previously managed the club for 11 years between 2002 and 2013, and led West Ham to their first major trophy in 43 years with the Europa Conference League victory in 2023.
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The ceremony brought together recipients from various walks of life, something that deeply moved the Everton manager.
"It was also incredibly humbling to see some of the other people getting awards for what they do in life from charity work to doctors leading the fight against cancer, or folk tackling drug addiction," Moyes reflected.
The football manager expressed genuine admiration for his fellow honourees' contributions to society.
"I felt really privileged to be alongside them to receive an award, too," he told Everton's website.
Moyes, who was named in the New Year's honours list earlier this year, described the Windsor Castle ceremony as "a great honour" and "a really special day for me and my family."
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