Recently, young Prince Louis was seen sporting an Aston Villa shirt while enjoying a game of football with his mother, Kate Middleton. At just six years old, Louis appears to be following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, and elder brother, Prince George, both of whom are passionate supporters of the historic Birmingham club.
The shirt Louis donned, emblazoned with the Cazoo logo, suggests it may have been passed down from George, as the sponsorship deal with Aston Villa concluded in 2021. This charming sighting occurred during a family gathering at Sandringham over the festive season, as reported by The Sun.
Prince William, 42, has been a devoted Aston Villa supporter throughout his life, a passion he has successfully instilled in George, whom he frequently takes to matches. The royal family has a rich connection to various sports; Mike Tindall, married to Olympic silver medal-winning equestrian Zara Tindall, is affectionately known as the children's 'fun uncle' and has shared insights into the family's enthusiasm for football. Tindall confirmed on his podcast that George is indeed a committed Aston Villa fan, often enjoying casual games with his siblings.
Both George and Louis are reportedly active participants in local youth football teams, with William and Kate regularly seen cheering them on from the sidelines. During a recent festive football match at Sandringham, George had the opportunity to play alongside his father for the first time, competing in a traditional pre-Christmas game against local villagers. Princess Charlotte, nine, and Louis were present to support them during this family event.
In 2020, Prince William revealed that he encouraged George to choose his own football allegiance. He expressed a desire to allow George to navigate this aspect of his interests independently, although he admitted to feeling "concerns" when George initially showed a preference for Chelsea. Reports from the Christmas match indicated that William nearly scored a goal, while George’s spirited performance highlighted a moment of "healthy father-and-son bonding." The duo donned matching blue shirts, with William sporting the number 18.
This year's Sandringham match was particularly significant as it marked George's first appearance in place of Prince Harry, who had participated until 2016. William has been proactive in introducing George to the world of football, taking him to Villa Park and Wembley to support England. Photos from their outings capture the pair celebrating during England's 2-1 victory against Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
Reflecting on his approach to George's football preferences, William remarked on The Peter Crouch Podcast in 2020, "I'm trying not to persuade him to be a Villa fan; I'm letting him choose his own way. It's about finding what fits for him."
In addition to football, George has recently embarked on a new adventure, completing his first flying lesson at the age of 11 near Windsor, with his parents by his side.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa finds itself in the spotlight for a different reason, following the confirmation of Jhon Duran’s three-match suspension. This decision came after Duran was sent off for allegedly stamping on defender Fabian Schar at St James's Park on Boxing Day. Villa manager Unai Emery expressed his discontent with referee Anthony Taylor for not utilising VAR prior to making the decision.
The frustration was echoed by key figures within the club, including Monchi, the president of football operations, and Damien Vidagany, the director of football operations, both of whom took to social media to voice their concerns. Monchi stated, "We can understand a mistake because to err is human, but to insist on the mistake only creates doubts about the system," affirming the club's commitment to advocating for its interests. Vidagany added that the true victim of the situation was the credibility of those involved in the decision-making process.
Club ambassador Ahmed Elmohamady labelled the rejection of Duran's appeal as "absolutely disgraceful," while Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer supported Emery's viewpoint, suggesting that any contact during the incident was accidental rather than intentional.
As it stands, Duran will miss crucial upcoming matches against Brighton, Leicester, and West Ham in the FA Cup due to the upheld suspension. Aston Villa's resilience will be tested in the coming weeks as they navigate this challenging situation.