Prince William was recently seen in the stands at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco, fervently supporting his cherished Aston Villa during their Champions League encounter against AS Monaco. Regrettably for the future King, the match concluded unfavourably, with Villa suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Clad in a blue jacket layered over a sweater and shirt, William appeared pensive as the game progressed. He was spotted engaging in conversation with his long-time friend, Thomas van Straubenzee, as they braved the chilly conditions together. Their friendship, which dates back to their childhood at Ludgrove prep school, is notably close; Prince Harry once remarked that Thomas was "the real" best man at William’s wedding in 2011. Their familial ties are significant, with Thomas serving as a godfather to William and Catherine's daughter, Princess Charlotte, while William holds the same honour for Thomas's daughter, Mary.
The connection between William, Kate, and Thomas extends further, as it is believed the royal couple played a role in introducing Thomas to his wife, Lucy. Lucy has been involved in the education of both Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Thomas's Battersea school, where she previously served as assistant head teacher at its sister institution in Clapham. Thomas and Lucy married in 2020 and now have two children together.
William's presence in Monaco followed a visit to a Wetherspoons pub in Birmingham, where he delighted fellow Aston Villa supporters by treating them to drinks while enjoying a glass of Bulmers cider. One fan, Steve Jones, 56, a devoted Villa supporter for 35 years, praised William's engagement with the club. "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," Jones stated.
Jones recounted their conversation, saying, "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." He added, "It was 95 per cent chat about Villa as that's our shared interest, but a bit about his family. Young George is a Villa fan, but he didn't want all three to be Villa fans. He was massively interested and seemed a really genuine guy, and all he wanted to do was talk about Villa."
William's allegiance to Aston Villa is well-documented and traces back to his school days. He has previously shared that he chose to support Villa, a club further from his home in Berkshire, to avoid following the crowd. "A long time ago at school, I got into football big time. I was looking around for clubs. All my friends at school were either Man United fans or Chelsea fans, and I didn't want to follow the run of the mill teams," he told the BBC in 2015. "I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments."
The Prince has articulated the joy that comes with supporting a club like Aston Villa, which has experienced its fair share of highs and lows. "Aston Villa's always had a great history. I have got friends of mine who support Aston Villa, and one of the first FA Cup games I went to was Bolton v Aston Villa back in 2000. Sadly, Villa went on to lose to Chelsea in the final," he reminisced. "It was fantastic. I sat with all the fans with my red beanie on, and I was sat with all the Brummie fans and had a great time. It was the atmosphere, the camaraderie, and I really felt that there was something I could connect with."
Despite the disappointment of the recent match, William's steadfast dedication to Aston Villa underscores a genuine passion for the club that transcends mere fandom, making him a relatable figure among supporters. His commitment to the team reflects the deep emotional ties that many fans share, reinforcing the notion that Aston Villa is not just a club, but a community that fosters connection and loyalty.