The 27-year-old royal even received a peck on the cheek from one as he arrived at the ceremony to take over as president of Bafta - following in the footsteps of his grandfather and aunt.
William looked dashing as he made his way up the red carpet and stole the limelight from Kate Winslet who waltzed up just moments later and was barely noticed.
A peck on the cheek: Prince William is greeted by an enthusiastic female fan as he arrives for the Baftas in London last night
Despite freezing wintry conditions the young Prince took time to have his picture taken with the hoardes of female admirers.
One teenage fan said: ‘He was so charming. He didn’t seem like royalty at all and spent ages having his photo taken with us.’
And his first task was to present a British Academy fellowship to avowed republican Vanessa Redgrave.
The fellowship recognises an individual's outstanding contribution to film and has previously gone to some of the industry's biggest names, including Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg.
Nice to meet you: William greets actress Uma Thurman
But while she is part of showbusiness royalty, she has not always been so keen on Britain's monarchy.
A self-confessed republican, in the 1970s she was heavily involved with The Workers' Revolutionary Party which called for the abolition of the monarchy.
The Royal Family has a long association with Bafta.
Prince Philip was instrumental in its inception and became its first president, followed by his daughter, Princess Anne.
William succeeds Lord Attenborough to become its fifth president.
Congratulations: Self-confessed republican Vanessa Redgrave greeted the Prince warmly
He told the audience that he was ‘honoured’ to take on the role.
He added: ‘The visual art are such a vital part of what makes up the fabric of the Nation. I am so grateful to Lord Attenborough for inviting me to take over from him.
‘Britain has been a cultural leader in so many ways not least in its cultural achievements. From the days of Shakespeare, to our own Shakespeare in Love, British playwrights, scriptwriters, actors, film makers and now video game designers – have led the way globally, if not always in terms of resource then undoubtedly in talent and innovation.
‘It is quite clear that the same cultural dynamism that so infused the first Elizabethan age still drives the beating heart of British visual arts in this second Elizabethan era.
Modern Royal: Prince William was welcomed more like a movie star than a future King
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