The Prince of Wales made a surprise appearance in Monaco as he watched his beloved football club, Aston Villa, in their latest Champions League group stage fixture.
Prince William, 42, was seen looking pensive in the stands at the Louis II Stadium as Monaco saw a 1-0 victory over Unai Emery’s side.
He was joined at the match in the Principality by one of his closest friends, Thomas van Straubenzee – who is also godfather to William’s daughter, Princess Charlotte.
William and Thomas have known one another since childhood, having attended Ludgrove prep school together.
The property mogul, who was previously married to former tennis player Lady Melissa Percy, wed Lucy Lanigan-O’Keeffe (a teacher at Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s former school Thomas’s Battersea) in 2020. The couple share two children, with William chosen as godfather to their daughter Mary.
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William’s latest show of support for the West Midlands football club comes after he surprised fellow Villa fans in Birmingham last week.
The father-of-three bought a round of drinks for the supporters as he stopped for a glass of Bulmers cider at a Wetherspoons pub in New Street station after attending the College of Paramedics’ inaugural emergency and critical care conference in the city.
One fan, Steve Jones, 56, said of the Prince: “He was fantastic. I was quite amazed about how engaged he was with the club and his interest. He’s not a fair weather fan. He really loves the club with a passion.
“We spoke about the club, the transfers, the pending Champions League trip to Monaco, and all things Aston Villa. He asked many questions, he’s got a good level of interest.”
And when quizzed on his family following suit, Steve said William shared: “Young George is a Villa fan but he didn’t want all three [children] to be Villa fans. He was massively interested and seemed like a really genuine guy and all he wanted to do was talk about Villa.”
English