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Royals Witness Aston Villa’s Thrilling Champions League Exit
Prince William and Prince George were among the spectators at Villa Park for a captivating five-goal spectacle, as their cherished Aston Villa clashed with Paris Saint-Germain in a gripping Champions League quarter-final second leg. The father and son duo observed the enthralling Champions League football match, which ultimately saw Aston Villa narrowly defeated by Paris Saint-Germain.
Pensive Prince William and Prince George’s Scarf
The Prince of Wales, 42, appeared thoughtful as he held a beverage in a hospitality suite before the match commenced. Eleven-year-old Prince George showcased his support for both teams, donning a dual-branded scarf featuring the badges of Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain.
Westminster Duke and Duchess Join Royal Box
Joining the Prince of Wales and Prince George in the VIP area were the Duke and Duchess of Westminster. The couple, who recently shared news of their pregnancy expected this summer, were in attendance less than a year after their June wedding.
Nail-biting Match Unfolds
Television cameras captured the group’s expressions of concern as Aston Villa conceded an early goal within the first 11 minutes in Birmingham. The Parisian team subsequently extended their advantage, further dampening the mood in the VIP box.
Prince William’s Cheering and Applause
Broadcasters focused on Prince William, a frequent attendee at Villa’s games this season, as he applauded and cheered enthusiastically when Youri Tielemans reduced the deficit just before the halftime interval.
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Home Side’s Fightback
The Princes were visibly animated as they rose to their feet when Aston Villa equalized in the 54th minute. The home team then ignited the stadium further, scoring again just three minutes later to seize the lead in a dramatic turnaround.
Champions League Hopes Dashed
Despite the spirited comeback, Aston Villa was unable to secure another goal. Ultimately, their Champions League journey concluded with a heartbreaking 5-4 aggregate defeat, bringing an end to their European campaign.
Paris First Leg and Emotional Rollercoaster
Both Prince William and Prince George were present at the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final in Paris the previous Wednesday, where the home side emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline. Their experience at the Parc des Princes was described as an emotional rollercoaster, particularly during the first half of the match.
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
The Prince of Wales (centre) celebrates with his son George and the Duke and Duchess of Westminster in the VIP box during Aston Villa’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final match against PSG on Tuesday
The VIP stand later erupted in applause once more as Villa scored a third goal to take the lead
Celebrations and First Leg Lead
Prince William and George celebrated enthusiastically the previous week when Morgan Rogers gave Aston Villa an initial advantage against PSG. However, the Parisian team swiftly responded, equalizing through a superb strike from Desire Doue.
Royal Invitation to Paris
Prince William’s attendance at the quarter-final first leg was at the invitation of PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Joining Pundits and Creating Memories
Prior to taking his seat, the Prince of Wales joined TNT Sports analysts Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist. He expressed his hope that the match would create ‘special memories’ with Prince George.
‘Best Behaviour’ in Paris
Responding to Ferdinand’s question about a ‘lads’ trip’, Prince William affirmed he was on his ‘best behaviour’ in the French capital.
Prince William on Fan Support and Family
‘I’m not sure how many Villa fans there will be, but they will make their presence known,’ Prince William remarked. ‘Having my son here means I am on best behaviour, but after 43 years since this occasion, I want George to experience a major competition night out. Creating these memories and bringing him is important.’
‘I am open to who my children support, though I am biased towards Villa given their game attendance. It will likely be Villa for them too, but the other two are at home, possibly watching on TV. We will see their allegiances,’ he added.
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 Prince of Wales celebrates during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain
The future King appeared in high spirits with his son after Villa scored
William celebrates a third goal from Villa alongside the Duke and Duchess of Westminster
Prince William looks solemn after his beloved Aston Villa were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday
Prince William and Prince George applaud their team at the end of the game as Villa were knocked out of the tournament after losing on aggregate
Pre-Match Prediction and Concerns
Prince William, also Patron of The FA, had predicted a 2-1 victory for Unai Emery’s team in the first leg, hoping to bolster their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
However, he admitted to feeling ‘pretty terrified’ about facing the French champions, acknowledging PSG’s impressive Champions League performance thus far.
‘It has been a long time coming, making it a significant game—43 years since the last such occasion. However, I am confident and excited by the prospect,’ he conveyed to TNT Sports. ‘I am wearing all my lucky attire and adhering to my pre-match rituals.’
Tunnel Appearance and Rashford Hug
Prince William was also observed in the tunnel before the match commenced, sharing a hug with Aston Villa and England forward Marcus Rashford as the players proceeded to the changing rooms following their warm-ups.
Villa’s Task and Early Setbacks
Aston Villa faced a formidable challenge, needing to overcome a two-goal deficit from the first leg in Paris to advance to the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition.
The match began poorly for the Villains and the watching royals, as Achraf Hakimi scored in the 11th minute, extending PSG’s aggregate lead to 4-1.
PSG then doubled their lead on the night, with Nuno Mendes’ shot finding the net off the post 16 minutes later, further compounding Villa’s difficult situation.
Royal Rift and Family Matters
Prince William’s presence at the Birmingham game occurred amidst reports from insiders close to Prince Harry indicating a deepening rift within the Royal Family. These reports suggest Prince Harry was uninformed about his father King Charles’s cancer diagnosis.
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 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
Strained Royal Relations
New reports have suggested that the Duke of Sussex’s attempts to contact family members, including his elder brother Prince William, are being disregarded.
People magazine in the US cited sources close to Harry, describing the continuing ‘strained’ relationship with his father, five years after the Duke and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back from senior royal duties and relocated to California.
‘Megxit’ Estrangement
Palace insiders have also commented on the estrangement since ‘Megxit’ in 2020. The last face-to-face meeting between Charles and Harry reportedly occurred during a brief 30-minute encounter in February of the previous year.
Unanswered Calls and Letters
Sources close to the Duke of Sussex have conveyed that his calls and letters to relatives have been met with silence, remaining unanswered.