2 weeks Ago By Sally Guyoncourt
Aston Villa’s Champions League quarter-final matches against Paris St Germain were an emotional rollercoaster for fans – not least their most famous, Prince William.The Prince is a devoted supporter of the team and is regularly seen in the stands, often with eldest son Prince George.He was at the first leg of the quarter-final in Paris and then at Villa Park for the second leg on Tuesday night.
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addToArray({"pos": "inread-hb-ros-inews"}); }In Paris, he expressed high hopes for the team but admitted he was “nervous” about the outcome. PSG eventually won the game 3-1.He told pundits Ally McCoist and Rio Ferdinand: “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.
“I hope it’s not 43 years until the next one happens, but I think those memories are really important to create and bringing him along tonight is a big deal for me.”Sadly, Villa’s 3-2 win at home in the second leg was not enough to see them through to the semi-finals but as the Royal knows, that’s football.if(window.
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adverts) { window.adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet_l1"}); }Why is Prince William an Aston Villa fan? Prince William said he picked Aston Villa for the emotional highs and lows (Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty)Prince William has always been the most visible and vocal football fan in the Royal Family.
As president of the Football Association (FA) since 2006, the Prince has regularly attended FA Cup final matches and in July last year he became patron of the organisation.And despite growing up primarily in London, his devotion for football has consistently been focused on one Midlands team since childhood – Aston Villa.He told former England captain Gary Lineker in 2015: “A long time ago at school, I got in to 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.
“Aston Villa’s always had a great history.”if(window.adverts) { window.
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adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet_l2"}); }Which teams do other Royal Family members support? King CharlesKing Charles III has admitted in the past his admiration for Burnley FC (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty)King Charles has always been a keen polo player and has shown less obvious interest in football than his eldest son.But it turns out he does have a soft spot for Lancashire team Burnley FC after carrying out some charity work in the area.
At a reception at Windsor Castle in 2012, he revealed: “A consortium of my charities, including the British Asian Trust, has been working in Burnley.“Hence, some of you asked this evening whether I support a British football club and I said, ‘Yes, Burnley’.“And people have responded, ‘Burnley?’“Oh yes, because Burnley has been through some very challenging times and I’m trying to find ways of helping to regenerate and raise aspirations and self-esteem in that part of the world.
”He is reported to be the owner of a VIP season ticket, although his appearances at Turf Moor have not been noted.if(window.adverts) { window.
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adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet_l3"}); }Prince HarryPrince Harry ‘s loyalty lies in north London for football (Photo: Getty)Prince Harry is a well known rugby fan and since moving to America he has been spotted at some American football games too.His devotion to English football is less obvious than that of his brother but he has revealed in the past where his loyalty lies when it comes to the beautiful game.
After north London team Arsenal lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 2017, the Prince was asked which football team he supported by a rugby coach while at a training event. He admitted it was Arsenal, adding: “I know. Let’s not talk about it.
”And it seems he is not alone among the family, while on a Royal tour in New Zealand he reportedly said: “Most of the Royal Family are Arsenal fans.”Princess of WalesThe Princess of Wales is reported to be Chelsea fan (Photo: Getty)Catherine, Princess of Wales has always been a keen sportswoman and is known for her love of tennis, rowing and hockey.When it comes to football, her husband is the real devotee but she has been by his side for England and Aston Villa matches.
Although her allegiance may be closer to home, with one particular West London team.if(window.adverts) { window.
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adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet_l4"}); }While attending a charity event in 2015, the decidedly non-partisan Royal let slip her love for Chelsea.A young child is reported to have revealed after speaking to the princess: “We high-fived because she supports Chelsea and I support Chelsea.
“I love people who support Chelsea.”Prince GeorgePrince George attending an Aston Villa match with his father (Photo: Getty)Prince George is regularly seen at England and Aston Villa matches with his parents these days.The 11-year-old has clearly inherited his love of the sport from his father and can been sporting Villa’s colours at matches at the Birmingham ground.
Discussing his children’s football allegiances recently, Prince William said he was “open to who they support” but added “I am biased but they come to games with Villa so it will likely be Villa.”However, Prince George appears to be torn between his parents when it comes to football.if(window.
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adverts) { window.adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet_l5"}); }Because his father previously admitted: “I said you can support anyone but Chelsea, so naturally he supports Chelsea.
”Queen Elizabeth IIQueen Elizabeth presenting the Jules Rimet Trophy to Bobby Moore, captain of the England team in 1966 (Photo:AFP/Getty)When it comes to spectator sports, the late Queen was known for her love of horse racing both as a fan and an owner.But it seems she may have also harboured a secret loyalty to one London football club since the 60s.The Daily Mirror reported in 2009 that she had offered up a small nugget of information about her allegiance to West Ham after overhearing a staff conversation about arch-rivals Millwall.
A royal source told the newspaper: “The Queen has never wanted people to know who she supports because she wants to be seen to be neutral.“But she gave up her secret after overhearing one of her staff members saying he was a Millwall fan and was talking to another member of staff about the derby between West Ham and their arch-rivals.“They were quite shocked – after all, she’s not exactly your typical West Ham fan.
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