Best photos of Prince William watching football as Aston Villa crash out of Champions League against PSG | OneFootball

William was joined by his son George at Villa Park to watch their team's spirited performance against PSG in the Champions League quarter-final second leg

Prince William and son George watched Aston Villa’s valiant Champions League fightback fall agonisingly short against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.

But they mounted a spirited comeback at Villa Park, winning 3-2 on the night, just one goal short of overturning the tie. PSG ultimately progressed 5-4 on aggregate.

“I’ve got my son here as well, so I’m on best behaviour,” William said on TNT Sports before the French leg.

“But I thought: You know what, it’s been 43 years since anything like this has happened in my generation as a Villa fan, and I want George to experience a night out away from home in a big European competition.

George, 11, wore a Villa scarf and appears to have followed his father’s footsteps in supporting the Birmingham team.

William did not emulate his father, the seemingly neutral King Charles, and forged his own path by supporting Villa.

The late Queen Elizabeth II is believed to have supported Arsenal, having met the Gunners at Buckingham Palace in 2007 after she could not open the Emirates Stadium. A back injury prevented her from carrying out her royal duty.

At a similar age to George, Prince Harry travelled to Lens with his father, the then Prince Charles, to watch England beat Colombia in the 1998 World Cup.

However, William has emerged as a prominent football fan in recent years. He has served as the patron of the Football Association since 2024 and its president since 2006.

When asked about his support for Aston Villa, the prince explained: “A long time ago, I got really into football at school. All my friends were Chelsea or Manchester United fans, and I didn’t want to follow the mainstream team.

Here are some of the best photos of William in the stands over the years.

Not quite the royal comeback

William cannot believe Villa came so close and yet so far to taking PSG to extra time in the Champions League

Nick Potts/PA Wire

Agony at Villa Park

William can’t bear to look during a Champions League group game at Villa Park in autumn 2024

PA

Three lions roar

William (right) celebrates England's equaliser from Cole Palmer in the Euro 2024 final against Spain in July 2024

PA

Yes! Oh, wait … Poor decision

Aston Villa score in May 2024 …

PA

… only for the goal to be ruled out

PA

A head scratcher

William can’t believe what he sees during Villa’s third-round Carabao Cup match with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in September 2021. Chelsea beat Villa 4-3 on penalties

PA

God save the Queen

We assume William and his wife Kate are joining in with the national anthem and not a chant mocking the opposition goalie during Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium in June 2021

PA

Masking his emotions

Remember masks in football stadiums? William donned one for the early rounds of Euro 2020 (played in 2021)

PA

Royal seat of approval

William has a row to himself at Spartans FC's Ainslie Park Stadium in Edinburgh (he was there in 2021 to hear about a mental health programme)

PA

Turning the tables

William is perhaps at his most animated while playing (and winning?) at table football

PA

The tale of the Carew

William celebrates with Villa legend John Carew after their side score the first goal in their 2-1 Championship play-off final victory over Derby County at Wembley Stadium in May 2019. The pair have sat together several times

PA

Pure joy/or grief (we can’t tell)

It is hard to say what William is feeling here in 2013

PA

‘You’ve got to hold and give and do it at the right time …’

William leaves this pre-match England pep talk to his wife

PA