Prince William and his son, Prince George, embarked on a surprise Easter break getaway to Paris to watch their beloved Aston Villa face off against Paris Saint-Germain in a high-stakes European quarter-final.
But what began as an exciting father-son bonding trip ended in disappointment, as Villa fell 3-1 to PSG in a tense match.
The Prince of Wales, a longtime Aston Villa supporter, had been looking forward to the game and was thrilled to share the experience with George.
“It’s been 43 years since anything like this has happened in my generation as a Villa fan,” William said ahead of the match. “I want George to experience a big European night away from home. These memories are so important.”
Despite the excitement and anticipation, the evening didn’t go quite as planned. From the stands, William and George watched anxiously as both teams fiercely battled for control, but it was PSG who emerged victorious.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with William visibly animated throughout the match, captured on camera reacting with passion as his team fought hard.
Young George mirrored his father’s intensity, nervously biting his lip as the match reached its climax. The pressure was clearly felt by the future King and his son, both invested in every pass and goal attempt.
Also seated with the royal pair was William’s close friend, Thomas van Straubenzee, a fellow Aston Villa fan and godfather to Princess Charlotte. The two men were seen exchanging thoughts on game tactics during the match.
Although the loss was a tough one to take, the trip was still a meaningful experience for the duo.
William, who has supported the West Midlands club for decades, once explained his choice to follow Villa in a 2015 interview with Gary Lineker: “All my friends supported Man United or Chelsea, but I didn’t want to follow the crowd. I picked a team that would give me more emotional rollercoasters—and Villa’s history has always appealed to me.”
George, too, is growing up with the same footballing passion. He has accompanied his father to several matches before and is often seen cheering alongside him in the stands. While William has said he hopes his children eventually find their own teams, he’s also proud to see George share in his love for Villa.
“I’m trying not to be too biased,” he once said, “but they see how passionate I am. I’m just trying to spread the love a little.”
Though the match didn’t deliver the outcome they hoped for, William and George’s Paris trip added another chapter to their shared football journey—one filled with nerves, excitement, and the kind of memories that last a lifetime.
