Cleared footballer Ched Evans is all smiles as his taxi drives past Duchess of Cambridge at Portrait Gallery gala during night out with girlfriend Natasha Massey
CLEARED footballer Ched Evans was all smiles last night - as he caught sight of the Duchess of Cambridge when his taxi drove past a red carpet gala in London.
The Chesterfield FC striker was apparently thrilled by his unexpected brush with royalty during a night out with his loyal girlfriend Natasha Massey.
Ched and Natasha peered through the window of the black cab as Kate arrived in a blizzard of flash bulbs outside the National Portrait Gallery.
The 35-year-old Duchess — wearing a glam green Temperley gown — was guest of honour at a black tie dinner attended by celebs including Alexa Chung, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Samantha Cameron.
Outside, Ched and Natasha were stuck in traffic and could not hide their joy as they watched the royal's arrival at the gallery near Trafalgar Square.
MOST READ IN NEWS
The former Manchester City and Wales star, 28, is rebuilding his life after he was cleared of rape last year.
He had already served half a five-year jail term after he was originally found guilty of raping a drunk teenage waitress at a hotel in Rhyl, North Wales, in 2011.
Beauty therapist Natasha, 27, stuck by him and her millionaire dad Karl bankrolled a long legal battle to clear his name.
Last April the Court of Appeal quashed Ched's conviction and in October the jury at his retrial found him not guilty.
He said outside court he was "overwhelmed with relief" and added: "Thanks go to my friends and family, most notably my fiancee Natasha, who chose, perhaps incredibly, to support me in my darkest hour."
The couple have a one-year-old son.
Ched is currently on a one-year contract with League One side Chesterfield after four years out of the sport.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368
