Prince William has revealed he “lost his voice” while celebrating Aston Villa’s win over Bayern Munich last night.
William, who has supported the West Midlands outfit since his school days, was pictured hollering alongside a number of his “inner circle” as Villa secured their first home win in the Champions League or European Cup in decades.
As the minutes went by, the prince – alongside long-time school friends Thomas van Straubenzee and Harry Aubrey-Fletcher – braced nervously as his side battled it out against the German giants.
But when substitute Jhon Duran lobbed Bayern’s veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from outside the box, William – and more than 42,000 Villa fans – went wild.
The prince had descended on Villa Park alongside long-time school friends Thomas van Straubenzee (left) and Harry Aubrey-Fletcher (right)
REUTERS
William and friends – as well as injured Villa stars Tyrone Mings and John McGinn in the next-door box – could be seen rising to their feet in jubilation
REUTERS
William and friends – as well as injured Villa stars Tyrone Mings and John McGinn in the next-door box – could be seen rising to their feet in jubilation as celebrations erupted across the ground.
Then, it was nerves again from the Prince of Wales as the clock ticked down, before the full-time whistle broke the tension and confirmed the Villans’ historic win.
Afterwards, the prince said: “I’ve lost my voice… I can’t quite believe it. 42 years!”
He had met former footballers who led Aston Villa to glory in 1982 European Cup final – where, again, Villa beat Bayern 1-0 – before the game.
MORE ON WILLIAM’S FOOTBALL LINKS:
Jhon Duran lobbed Bayern’s veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from outside the box to make it 1-0
REUTERS
William beamed as he shook hands with the 1982 heroes – who lifted the trophy a little under a month before the heir to the throne’s birth.
Posting on social media, Kensington Palace’s account said pre-game: “42 years on, our 1982 European Cup winning legends are here on an historic night for Aston Villa.
“Ready for the first game on home turf in this year’s European adventure… Up The Villa!”
William has opened up on his links to the club before, detailing how, at school, he “got into football big time”.
“Ready for the first game on home turf in this year’s European adventure… Up The Villa!” Kensington Palace said
KENSINGTON PALACE
William posed with Villa’s heroes of ’82 pre-match
KENSINGTON PALACE
“All my friends were Chelsea or Manchester United fans and I didn’t really want to follow the run-of-the-mill team,” the prince said.
He continued: “I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments. Aston Villa has always had a great history.”
And his love for the club is now shared by his wife, Princess Kate – who alongside William and their children have attended Villa games in the past.
Prince George used to a big fan – but the second-in-line to the throne has controversially switched allegiances to Kensington Palace’s local club Chelsea – with his none-too-pleased father revealing: “I said you can support anyone but Chelsea… So, naturally, he supports Chelsea.”