After a busy day of official duties, the Prince of Wales had a night off to watch his beloved football team, Aston Villa, play in the UEFA Champions League. The group stage match against Fenerbahce SK took place at Villa Park with a 8pm kick off.
The claret and blue team took an early lead, scoring in the 12th minute and then securing two further goals in the 31st and 39th minutes. Midfielder Johan Manzambi was the opening goal scorer and it would have been particularly sweet for the player as the achievement came on his 21st birthday. The second half saw three more goals, bringing the final score line to 6-0.
© Getty ImagesDuring the elated moments of the exciting match, William rose to his feet and raised his fists in the air with glee. At one point, the royal was cheering at the top of his lungs, in reaction to the ball hitting the back of the net.
These off-guard moments of true emotion show a relatable side to William, who will one day be future king.
© Getty ImagesIn an interview with the BBC, William has spoken about his chosen club, explaining: "I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments." Well, Wednesday was certainly one of the highs.
William teased for his football team
William had alluded to the match earlier in the day when he was in East London meeting alumni and students who benefited from the Amos Bursary.
© Getty ImagesStephen Brooks, regional director in the West Midlands, brought up football by saying: "We’ve all been talking about how great Aston Villa are doing!" And to that William simply replied: "Champions League tonight!" He was heckled with occasional chants of "Arsenal!" another English team competing in the tournament.
Do Prince William's children also support Aston Villa?
The father-of-three is often seen with his eldest, Prince George, by his side at Villa matches, and the youngster is said to be a keen fan of the Birmingham-based team too. His sister, Princess Charlotte, however, has pledged her allegiance to Chelsea, a Premier League rival. Youngest of the Wales children, Prince Louis, remains undecided.
William previously joked that his son supports about "five different" teams. He said: "I'm kind of hoping they'll all find their own teams in time. They don't all have to be Villa fans. I'm trying not to be biased but obviously they see how passionate I am about it and they watch the matches with me."
