Prince William's surprise night out at...the bingo!

Prince William went away empty-handed from a night playing bingo, it emerged today.

According to reports, the second-in-line to the throne went to a bingo club near Sandhurst last Friday, where he is currently training.

He used the name William Harry at the Mecca hall and paid £5 for a book of five tickets after becoming a club member - but did not win any of the £20 prizes.

The 24-year-old spent nearly an hour playing bingo at the club in Reading, Berkshire, with ten friends and he spoke to elderly people in the foyer, according to the Sun newspaper.

He also signed the back of another player's bingo card before drinking at three bars in the town, the newspaper said.

An unnamed player told the Sun: "Initially he told someone he was a lookalike, but his mates all started laughing so he had to own up.

"He was very friendly, talking and joking with people. When someone asked him to sign the back of their bingo card he borrowed a pen from the girl behind the bar and signed a couple of cards."

The bingo was apparently suggested by the Prince's fellow cadets at Sandhurst as a joke, according to the paper.

A spokeswoman for Clarence House said: "I can confirm that he was there, but as he was on a private business I cannot discuss it any further."

Last month Clarence House announced that Prince William would continue his Army training in Dorset as he followed his brother, Prince Harry, into the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals.

Prince William, who will one day be head of the Armed Forces, will train to be a troop leader in an armoured reconnaissance unit, just like Harry.

He will begin a six-month training course, which his younger sibling is due to finish soon, at Bovington Camp after passing out from Sandhurst in December.