Prince Williamand Prince George have been spotted in the stands at Villa Park to cheer on their belovedAston Villaduring theirChampions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Prince of Wales, 42, looked pensive as he clutched a drink in a hospitality box prior to kick-off, while Prince George, 11, wore a half-and-half scarf featuring the emblems of the two sides.
The father and son were also joined in the VIP box by the Duke and Duchess of Westminster, who recently announced that they are expecting a baby this summer less than a year after tying the knot in June.
They were later caught by the TV cameras with concerned looks after Villa conceded a goal in the first 11 minutes of the clash in Birmingham. The French giants soon doubled their lead to end Villa’s faint hopes of progressing to the semi-finals.
Broadcasters then panned to Prince William – who has been a regular at Villa’s matches this season – as he applauded and cheered after Youri Tielemans halved the deficit on the night.
Both William and George attended the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final in Paris last Wednesday, which the hosts won 3-1. The pair went through an emotional rollercoaster during the first half of the match at the Parc des Princes.
Prince William (circled left) and his son Prince George are joined by the Duke and Duchess of Westminster (circled right) as they cheer on their beloved Aston Villa during their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain
Prince William, 42, was sat next to Prince George, 11, as they cheered on their beloved Aston Villa. The Duke of Westminster also attended the game and can be seen sitting in front of William
Prince William, Prince George and the Duke and Duchess of Westminster rose to their feet after Villa scored to make it 2-1 to PSG
Prince William and George launched into celebrations when Morgan Rogers gave Aston Villa a first half lead against PSG, only for the hosts to equalise through a superb Desire Doue strike.
Prince William had been invited to the quarter-final first leg by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
The Prince of Wales had joined TNT Sports pundits Rio Ferdinandand Ally McCoist ahead of taking his seat.
He explained how the tie would help to create ‘special memories’ with Prince George.
In response to Ferdinand’s question as to whether it was a ‘lads’ trip’, Prince William insisted he was on his ‘best behaviour’ in the French capital.
‘I’m not sure how many Villa fans there will be but they will make themselves well known,’ Prince William said.
‘I have got my son here too so I am on best behaviour but 43 years since this has happened and I want George to experience a night out in a big competition, those memories are really important to create and bringing him away is important.
‘I am open to who they support, I am biased but they come to games with Villa so it will likely be Villa, but I have left the other two at home probably watching on TV. We will see who they support.’
Prince William, Prince George and the Duke of Westminster look tense as they watch Aston Villa’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against PSG on Tuesday
There were concerned looks from the royals as Aston Villa went 2-0 down on the night
Prince William and Prince George had been spotted in a packed VIP box before kick-off at Villa Park in Birmingham
The Prince of Wales, 42, was in the stands ahead of kick-off at Villa Park on Tuesday
The royals celebrated as Aston Villa took a first half lead through Morgan Rogers against PSG in Paris last week
Prince William explained how he wanted to make special memories with George as the pair attended Aston Villa’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSG in Paris
Prince William, who also Patron of The FA, predicted Unai Emery’s side would secure a 2-1 victory in the first leg to boost their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
He, however, admitted to being ‘pretty terrified’ ahead of facing the French champions with PSG having impressed throughout the Champions League to date.
‘It has been a while coming so it is a big game, 43 years since this happened, but I am confident and excited by the prospect,’ he told TNT Sports. ‘I am wearing all my clothes and bits and pieces and have done my routines.’
Prince William was also seen in the tunnel before kick-off and hugged Aston Villa and England forward Marcus Rashford as the players made their way to the changing rooms following the warm-ups.
Aston Villa faced a tough task as they looked to overturn the two-goal deficit from the first leg in Paris and reach the semi-finals of European football’s premier club competition.
And it started poorly for the Villains and the watching royals as Achraf Hakimi struck in the 11th minute to make it 4-1 on aggregate.
PSG then doubled their lead on the night as Nuno Mendes’ effort went in off the post 16 minutes later.
Prince William’s attendance at the game in Birmingham comes after insiders close to Prince Harry revealed his rift with the Royal Family is deepening – claiming he was left in the dark about his father King Charles’s cancer battle.
Prince William spoke of how he wanted George to experience a ‘big away night’ in Europe
Prince William joined TNT Sports team ahead of the crunch match at the Parc des Princes last week
The Prince of Wales also visited the team last month and was seen speaking to Morgan Rogers
The Duke of Sussex’s calls to family members including his elder brother Prince William are also ignored, new reports today have suggested.
People magazine in the US quotes sources close to Harry as describing the ongoing ‘strained’ relationship with his father five years after the Duke and his wife Meghan Markle quit frontline royal duties and moved to California.
Palace insiders were also quoted on the estrangement since so-called ‘Megxit’ in 2020 – with the last face-to-face encounter between Charles and Harry being a 30-minute meeting in February last year.
Sources close to the Duke have told of his calls and letters to relatives being left unanswered.