Prince William prefers to stay locked in when watching his team play, even when a phone call comes in.
The senior royal, an avid supporter of English soccer club Aston Villa, recently drew attention online after clips from the club’s Europa League final match went viral. In the footage, William appeared to ignore a phone call while recording the action on the pitch.
William has attended several Villa matches over the years and has also spoken about why he chose to support the club instead of one of the Premier League’s more dominant teams.
Aston Villa’s Europa League final win over SC Freiburg came with a royal moment that has since gone viral.
William was spotted in the stands watching the team play, as he has done on several occasions while supporting his beloved club.
Villa eventually emerged victorious with a 3-0 scoreline, and the Prince of Wales wasted no time pulling out his phone to film the celebrations.
However, while he was recording the moment, an incoming call appeared on his screen. Rather than pick up, William chose to stay locked in on the action and swiped the decline button, per People Magazine.
It remains unclear who was calling, as the caller ID was not visible, or whether the call was urgent enough to require the prince’s immediate attention.
William’s Villa Loyalty Wins Fans Over
Following the celebrations, William headed backstage, where he posed with the Europa League trophy.
In the photo, the future king was seen alongside team manager Unai Emery and another club official. William appeared all smiles as he held the trophy with both hands, as seen in an image posted on Aston Villa’s official X page.
The moment sparked several comments from fans, many of whom praised William for his continued support of the Villans.
“Oh, our Prince of Wales is so happy tonight!! He is a true Villa fan for sure,” one fan wrote.
“One of the true celebrities/Royals who cares about the club and not using it as a stunt. I salute you,” a second fan remarked. Another commented, “An unforgettable and iconic [moment] for Prince William as he is a huge fan of Villa.”
Prince William Celebrates Aston Villa’s Historic Win
William also took to the official page for the Prince and Princess of Wales to issue a congratulatory message to Aston Villa.
“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,” he wrote.
His message also included a special shoutout to Villa’s defensive star Boubacar Kamara, who suffered a serious knee injury in January that left him sidelined for the rest of the season. “Special shout out to Boubacar Kamara, who has been out injured but is such an integral part of our team and helped lay the foundations of this success,” William added.
William Picked Villa For The Highs And Lows
William’s decision to support Aston Villa has often surprised fans, given the many bigger and more successful clubs he could have chosen.
He previously explained his choice during a 2015 BBC interview, revealing that his support for the club began during his school years. According to William, he wanted the highs and lows that come with backing a team outside the Premier League’s traditional dominant sides.
“A long time ago at school I got into 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,” William said. He added, “I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments.”
Prince William And George Bond Over Villa Passion
Like his father, Prince George has also developed a strong interest in Aston Villa and has often been seen joining him at high-profile matches.
The pair attended the team’s Champions League quarter-final clash against PSG in April last year.
“I have got my son here too so I am on [my] best behavior, but 43 years since this has happened, and I want George to experience a night out in a big competition; those memories are really important to create, and bringing him away is important,” William told the Daily Mail at the time.
“I am open to who they support. I am biased, but they come to games with Villa, so it will likely be Villa, but I have left the other two at home, probably watching on TV. We will see who they support,” he added.