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8 amazing action shots of the royals playing football

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children are among the royal football fans

Kate Middleton kicking football in Northern Ireland
Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
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The royals are an incredibly sporty bunch and some are renowned for their love of the game, particularly self-confessed Aston Villa fan, the Prince of Wales.

And it seems that Prince William's eldest son, Prince George, has followed in his dad's footsteps with appearances at the Euro 2020 tournament in summer 2021 and Villa's match against Nottingham Forest in April earlier this year.

And at an outing in Birmingham, William revealed: "George is generally very happy with Villa, Louis will hopefully choose his own team and Charlotte's just getting into football, so we'll see."

Princess Charlotte joined her father to send a good luck message to the Lionesses ahead of the Euro 2022 final last year, and William has been cheering on Sarina Wiegman's team in the World Cup since the tournament kicked off.

The Prince, who is President of the Football Association (FA), will not be in attendance as the Lionesses face Spain in the final in Australia on Sunday.

However, it's understood that the royal father-of-three will be watching the game on television.

It's not just William and his children who are fans, take a look at some of our favourite snaps of the royals playing football…

18

Mike and Mia Tindall

Mike and Mia Tindall kick football at Help For Heroes' Battle of the Balls Fundraiser© Getty
Mia is sporty just like her parents

Mia Tindall enjoyed some father-daughter time with dad Mike in January 2022 as she supported him during a charity football match in Gloucester. The youngster, then eight, enjoyed a little kickabout of her own on the pitch after cheering on her father from the sidelines.

28

The Prince and Princess of Wales

William and Kate play football at the National Stadium in Belfast in 2019© Getty
William and Kate went head-to-head at the National Stadium in Belfast in 2019

Ever the competitive couple, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge went head-to-head as they joined a kickabout with youngsters during their Ireland tour in 2019.

SEE:  6 times the royals have supported the Lionesses

SHOP: Lionesses training kit: Where to buy the Women's football kit for the World Cup 2023 final 

38

Prince George and Princess Charlotte

George and Charlotte enjoy a kickabout© Getty
George and Charlotte enjoy a kickabout

George couldn't resist having a little game with his younger sister,  Charlotte, as their dad William played in a charity polo match in June 2019. Charlotte got to experience her first football game when Aston Villa played Norwich City at their Carrow Road stadium, not far from the Cambridges' country home, Anmer Hall.

48

The Prince of Wales 

Prince William kicks football© Getty
Prince William is a massive Aston Villa fan

William gives his best shot during a visit to Spartans FC's Ainslie Park Stadium in Edinburgh in May 2021. The Prince has previously explained why he supports Aston Villa, despite not being from the Midlands, telling Gary Lineker in 2015 that the decision dates back to his childhood.

The Prince revealed: "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. I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments."

58

Prince Harry

Prince Harry takes a penalty at Upton Park© Getty
Prince Harry taking a penalty at Upton Park

He shoots, but did he score? Prince Harry takes a penalty kick in front of youth squad members at West Ham United's Upton Park ground in 2002.

DISCOVER:  Women's World Cup: How much do the Lionesses get paid?

68

Prince Harry

Harry and William used to play in an annual football match on Christmas Eve on the Sandringham estate© Getty
Harry and William used to play in an annual football match on Christmas Eve on the Sandringham estate

William and Harry used to take part in an annual charity football match at the Queen's Sandringham estate every Christmas. The royal brothers were on the same team in 2015 as they played against household staff.

78

King Charles

King Charles takes a penalty in 2006© Getty
King Charles takes a penalty

Then Prince Charles donned his best concentration face as he took a penalty during a visit to Newcastle United's St James Park ground in 2006.

88

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Crown Princess Victoria kicking football© IBL/Shutterstock
Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Prince Daniel, are football fans

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden showed off her skills during her Province walk in Jamtland in May 2019.