Revealed: What King Charles told a young Aussie footy fan when he asked the monarch how much he knows about the AFL

King Charles is a noted polo fan – and now it can be revealed the monarch still remembers Aussie Rules football, 54 years after attending a match in Melbourne.

The revelation came after a youngster asked the King about the AFL on Tuesday as he joined Queen Camilla at Canberra’s National Botanic Gardens during their royal tour.

Schoolboy Leo Turner, 12, asked the King if he knew anything about AFL – and his answer was succinct.

“Yes, I’ve heard of it,” Charles said.

Leo then asked the king to name his favorite sport, to which the 75-year-old replied: ‘There’s not much I can do now. Too many injuries. I used to sit on a horse.’

It comes after then-Prince Charles joined his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in a historic Sunday Aussie Rules match in 1970.

The Queen attended the season-opening clash between reigning Prime Ministers Richmond and Fitzroy in the VFL at the MCG, alongside her late husband Prince Philip, Charles and Princess Anne.

King Charles (pictured in Sydney on Tuesday), the first reigning British monarch to visit Australia in 13 years

The cover of Football Record featured the Queen as she attended a VFL match between Richmond and Fitzroy at the MCG in 1970 – accompanied by the then Prince Charles

Pictured: The Queen is introduced to Fitzroy stars in the center of the MCG

The royals arrived in a cavalcade, with strict instructions to follow – and the occasion stirred some foot players.

Roger Dean was the Tigers’ captain that year and recalled how nervous he became when he was tasked with introducing his teammates.

“I thought, I hope I remember all the players’ names,” Dean said.

‘I couldn’t believe I was talking to royalty.

‘He [Prince Charles] seemed nice enough, he didn’t say much, he was just courteous to the players, “Enjoy the game?” and ‘It’s a very difficult game, isn’t it’.

‘It was quite formal. He was probably bored by the snoring.’

Richmond’s 1980 premiership coach Tony Jewell blamed the presence of the Queen and other royals for the shock loss.

“We trudged into the rooms at half-time far from pleased with ourselves as we were only a few points ahead when we were expected to wipe out Fitzroy almost at will,” he said.

‘We just couldn’t concentrate on the job at hand… and instead of being able to sort out our thoughts during the break, there were all kinds of people running around the rooms at half-time.

‘Some tried to explain the protocol, others explained how to position themselves and still others handed out instructions. For example, we were told not to say anything – not a word – to the Queen unless a question was asked.

“She said nothing to me, so my encounter with the Queen was nothing more than a very quick movement of her gloved hand.

‘I also remember having to change into clean guernseys and wash our hands at half time.’