Sports commentator Clive Tyldesley was presented with a CBE by the Prince of Wales during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, where the pair discussed William's beloved Aston Villa ahead of their upcoming European final.
Speaking to the PA following the honour for services to sports broadcasting and charity, Mr Tyldesley praised the authenticity of the heir to the throne's footballing allegiances.
"There's nothing manufactured about his love for his football team," he said, describing William's support for the Birmingham-based club as "a genuine link between the (Royal) Family and the national sport".
Villa face German side Freiburg on May 20 in their first major European final since 1982, having secured their place with a commanding 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Villa Park.
Sports commentator Clive Tyldesley was presented with a CBE by the Prince of Wales during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, where the pair discussed William's beloved Aston Villa ahead of their upcoming European final.
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The football commentator said: “He’s a supporter of a team that’s had its highs and lows and is just about to enjoy, hopefully, a wonderful high next week.”
Prince William is expected to travel to Istanbul on Wednesday for Aston Villa's Europa League final against Freiburg, according to sources close to the royal.
Mr Tyldesley described feeling "very proud, very humbled" upon receiving the honour, reflecting on a career that began as a runner at a radio station straight after university.
"The first thing that I did was host a late-night rock show but I always wanted to work in and around football," he said.
The commentator confirmed that William naturally brought up Villa during their exchange, remarking: "You would be surprised if he didn't."
Speaking to the PA following the honour for services to sports broadcasting and charity, Mr Tyldesley praised the authenticity of the heir to the throne's footballing allegiances.
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He also revealed he had passed on his admiration for the King's recent address to Congress, saying: “Part of me would have loved to have told the King how impressed I was by his speech to Congress a couple of weeks ago but I relayed that to the prince.”
On the subject of VAR, Tyldesley suggested that altering football's rules to accommodate the technology was "a little blinkered", arguing that debates over handball decisions at elite level overlook the sport's universal appeal.
On Wednesday, Daniel Levy also received a CBE from the Prince of Wales during the investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, with the former Tottenham Hotspur chairman revealing that Prince William expressed his support for Spurs to avoid the drop.
"I thanked him for allowing us (Tottenham) to beat Aston Villa when we played them a few weeks ago," Mr Levy told the PA.
Mr Tyldesley described feeling "very proud, very humbled" upon receiving the honour, reflecting on a career that began as a runner at a radio station straight after university.
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"He wished us luck the rest of the season, very much hoping that Tottenham survives in the Premier League."
Mr Levy, who served as the Premier League's longest-serving chairman across 24 years at the north London club, faced criticism from supporters who felt he placed commercial priorities above on-pitch achievements.
When asked about Tottenham's current standing in the table, Mr Levy described his feelings with a single word: "Emptiness but I'm optimistic that we will remain in the Premier League."
The club sits precariously just two points above the relegation zone, having accumulated only 38 points from 36 matches this campaign.