A BRAVE young boy from Marlow got the chance to talk football with royalty yesterday while in hospital awaiting surgery.

Five-year-old James Middlehurst, who is an amputee, met Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall during their visit to Chelsea Children’s Hospital.

The Spinfield School pupil asked the future King what football team he supported, with the Prince of Wales declining to reveal his colours.

But when the Marlow youngster revealed his love for Manchester United, Prince Charles joked it was probably best to keep quiet about it, following the team’s defeat to rivals Liverpool on Sunday.

James’s mum Paula, who is a presenter on Sky News, said: "We were scheduled in for the operation in April, but they asked us out of the blue to come in early.

"It cheered James up a bit that he met someone so important. I said to shake his hand but did not realise you’re not supposed to touch royalty! But Prince Charles very delicately shook his finger like a grandfather which was very sweet.

"When Camilla told him her family supported Arsenal, he told her that they were rubbish!"

Paula said James showed the Royal couple the part of his leg that he was to have surgery on, and chatted to the Duchess about the recent Lego movie.

The meeting came as the Prince and Duchess toured wards as part of the official opening for Chelsea Children’s Hospital in West London, which cares for more than 75,000 sick children every year.

James was born with a club foot and had his left leg amputated when he was a year old, but is able to run and even jump on a trampoline thanks to his prosthetic limb.

Paula said eventually James could receive an artificial limb with a knee joint to allow for even greater flexibility.

The youngest of four, James has a brother also at Spinfield School, with a brother and sister studying at Sir William Borlase’s School.

He is currently recovering at home before returning to the classroom.