When he was still a prince, King Charles III joined the ‘Godfather of Soul’ for the 1977 matchup between the Bulldogs and the Wildcats.

Former Kentucky football player Joe Bryant recalls that the atmosphere in Sanford Stadium at the start of the University of Georgia’s homecoming game was electric. “Boy, that place was packed,” Bryant says. “But I can tell you this, by halfway through the third quarter it was about four-fifths empty.”

Bryant reportedly kicked a pair of 51-yard field goals for the Wildcats and Derrick Ramsey threw three touchdown passes to rout Georgia 33-0. “The Georgia faithful was ready to hit the road once they saw Prince Charles and James Brown at halftime,” Nick Roush writes for Kentucky Sports Radio.

King Charles was weeks away from his 30th birthday when he decided to attend the homecoming game at Sanford Stadium.

Roush adds, “His motives were unknown, but the royal was welcomed with open arms, greeted by the fans with chants of ‘Damn Good Prince!’”

>>WATCH: Coach Vince Dooley talks about how the visit came about:

>> Click here to read more about Prince Charles’ visit between the hedges.

Following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, on Thursday, Charles ascended to the British throne after more than 70 years as the heir apparent.

The Queen passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, officials with Buckingham Palace announced, hours after officials said doctors had concerns over her health.

In a statement, the King remembered his mother as “a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother.”

“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world,” he said. “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”

>> Find more content, commemorating Queen Elizabeth II here.

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