Prince William displayed his football knowledge during a light-hearted exchange with members of the public at Ascot Racecourse. The Prince of Wales, dressed in a top hat, sat alongside his wife, Princess Kate, in a horse-drawn carriage at the Berkshire venue.
Villa Banter at the Races
When a member of the crowd shouted 'Up the Villa' in reference to his beloved team, William replied: 'I hear people saying that now.' The prince, a well-known supporter of the West Midlands club, which thrashed SC Freiburg 3-0 to win the Europa League in Istanbul in May, then pointed to the individual and asked if they were a Villa fan.
Upon confirmation, he clenched his fist and smiled in solidarity, ending with 'good season' in reference to the club's cup win and fourth-place Premier League finish, securing Champions League football under coach Unai Emery.
Kate's Stunning Yellow Ensemble
Kate wore a bright yellow dress complemented by an elegant hat of the same colour, drawing praise on social media. Beverley Cosgrove wrote: 'Catherine looks stunning, as always, the yellow is beautiful on her.' Stacey Illingworth added: 'This is what I like about William, he's so approachable and yet still holds that regal air without being pompous. Catherine looked stunning.' Paula Ann Brown-Remnant posted: 'Love him, he is so down to earth & I bet he would be a good laugh in a pub after a few pints lol.'
William's Villa Connection
William started supporting Villa during his school years at Eton, choosing a club outside the usual popular choices. Following Villa's cup victory last month, he visited the players in their dressing room and had a drink with them. Defender Matty Cash said: 'He was in there having a beer with us. He's just delighted. He's such a big supporter. He's always coming to the training ground, always at Villa Park. And he deserves moments like these and hopefully he can let his hair down.'
William also took to Instagram to congratulate the team, writing: 'Amazing night! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone connected to the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware!'
