Prince William has said he lost his voice after enthusiastically cheering his beloved Aston Villa to a historic victory against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Prince of Wales, 42, is a lifelong fan of the Birmingham-based Premier League team and was part of the crowd for its first home game in European soccer’s elite competition for 41 years.
From appearing tense to putting his arms up in the air as he cheered, William, dressed in a navy jacket and sporting his fan-favourite beard, had been through all the emotions as he watched his team at Villa Park stadium in the UK’s second city.
Television footage showed a jubilant William cheering and hugging those next to him at full time, as his team beat German giants Bayern 1-0 in a repeat of their 1982 European Cup final win.
The prince – known to be a huge football fan – also made fists in victory, as well as giving a delighted thumbs up to another member of the crowd. After the game, William said: ‘I’ve lost my voice. I can’t quite believe it. 42 years.’
His outing comes after the Prince and Princess of Wales, in a rare appearance, met an aspiring photographer with an aggressive form of cancer after inviting the teenager to take pictures at investitures at Windsor Castle.
Prince William looked ecstatic as he cheered his beloved Aston Villa to a shock victory against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday
A jubilant William couldn’t contain his emotions as his team won the game 1-0 against all odds, giving a delighted thumbs up to another member of the crowd
Prince William reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Aston Villa and Bayern Munich
Jhon Duran of Aston Villa celebrates with teammates after leading his team to a shock victory during the UEFA Champions League clash
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved a last-minute header from Harry Kane to help his side hold on for a memorable 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Jhon Duran scored a superb winner and Martinez told TNT Sports: ‘Unreal to be fair. That’s the loudest Villa Park has been since I’ve joined the club, it was hurting my ears, it’s a club moving forward, that’s why I stayed here. I love playing here, I love the fans, it’s a good win for them.’
His stellar performance could have been royally inspired – as Prince William led celebrations from the stands.
The royal, who is patron of the English Football Association, met members of Villa’s 1982 European Cup – as it was formerly known – winning team before watching the much-anticipated match.
Television footage showed William clapping and cheering at Villa Park as home fans thought they took the lead through Pau Torres but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Before the Champions League match, William met Villa’s 1982 European Cup-winning squad, who beat Bayern 1-0 in the final.
A post on the Prince and Princess of Wales’s X social media account read: ’42 years on, our 1982 European Cup winning legends are here on an historic night for @AVFCOfficial.
‘Ready for the first game on home turf in this year’s European adventure… £UTV (Up the Villa).’
The Prince of Wales gave Aston Villa a standing ovation after they defeated Bayern Munich 1-0
Prince William watched his beloved Aston Villa as it hosted Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday
The Prince of Wales appeared to go through a rollercoaster of emotions during the nail-biting match
He enthusiastically cheered on his beloved team – of whom he is a lifelong fan – from the stands
The Prince of Wales attended the match on Wednesday at Villa Park, Birmingham
William, who is patron of the English Football Association, met members of Villa’s 1982 European Cup winning team before the match at Villa Park before watching the much-anticipated match
Villa, who opened their European campaign with a 3-0 win away at Swiss side Young Boys, played their first home fixture in Europe’s top competition since a quarter-final defeat to Juventus in 1983.
Earlier on Wednesday, footballing stars including former Scotland player Ally McCoist received honours from William at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.
McCoist, who was made an OBE, said the pair talked about football, including Aston Villa’s European tie.
McCoist said: ‘I’m obviously well aware that the prince is an Aston Villa fan – they’ve got a very, very big game tonight, which I think he’s going to. So we spoke about that, and just generally working in broadcasting and life really.’
Former England international Karen Carney, who was made an OBE, said she had ‘some banter’ with William – who supports the rival team to her Birmingham City.
‘To be brutally honest, a lot of people know I’m a Birmingham City fan, there’s a big game at Aston Villa tonight,’ Carney said.
‘Obviously with Prince William being a Villa fan I thought there was a good opportunity for some banter with him. He was really gracious, he’s going to the game, which is cool.
‘So we just chatted about football really which is I think the common language for everybody, I think everyone can talk about football which is really good.
Prince William reacts during the UEFA Champions League football match between Aston Villa and Bayern Munich
The future King gave a standing ovation as Jhon Duran scored the opening goal
‘I’ve met him previously with the Lionesses, he’s a football fan for both the men’s and women’s game, which is really cool.’
Earlier this year, William was seen cheering on the England men’s national team at the Euros.
It comes after the Princess of Wales hugged a young fellow cancer sufferer after she was invited to Windsor Castle to take pictures by Prince William.
In a moving encounter keen photographer Liz Hatton, 16, who is battling a rare and aggressive tumour, was asked by the future king to join him at an investiture he was holding to capture participants including Mark Cavendish, Waynes Barnes and Alistair McCoist.
Liz, from Harrogate in Yorkshire, is trying to take part in as many photography experiences as possible and received the personal invitation from William after he found out about her through the London Air Ambulance Charity of which he is patron.
Liz was also invited along with her family to meet with William and Kate privately to hear about her day and cancer journey.
During the emotional meeting, the princess – who announced last month she has completed her own course of preventative chemotherapy treatment – flung her arms around the teenager.
Looking radiant in a burgundy trouser suit, beige jumper and gold earrings, it was the first time the princess had been pictured back ‘at work’ since she made her latest announcement, although the meeting was classed as ‘private’ and will not be recorded in the Court Circular.
The Prince of Wales, 42, is a lifelong fan of the Birmingham-based Premier League team and was part of the crowd for its first home game in European soccer’s elite competition for 41 years
William, Prince of Wales, celebrates Aston Villa’s victory on the final whistle
The Prince of Wales in the stands during the UEFA Champions League match at Villa Park
At points during the game, Prince William, left, looked tense as he watched his beloved team
Villa’s last game in the European Cup – as it was formerly known – was against Juventus in 1983 when it was defending champion. It was eliminated in the quarterfinals and has had to wait more than four decades to make a return
She has so far held a number of meetings and attended a ballet performance but none have been captured on camera.
The prince and princess later posted pictures of the moment on their social media channels, along with the message: ‘A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today. A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us [heart emoji] W&C.’
Liz later wrote online: ‘Such lovely, genuine and kind people. I’m over the moon that my family had this experience.’
The teenager was accompanied by her mother, Vicky Robayna, stepfather, Aaron and brother Mateo.
The teen was also delighted that a number of her photographs were posted by Kensington Palace, which boasts million of followers, also on their social media channels.
A royal spokesman said: ‘The Prince found out about Liz through the London Air Ambulance Charity of which he is Patron and following the investiture both the Prince and princess of Wales met Liz privately with her family to hear about her day and journey.’
Liz was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumour in January and has created a photography ‘bucket list’.
Her mother said doctors have told her daughter she has between six months and three years to live.
The Princess of Wales hugged a young fellow cancer sufferer after she was invited to Windsor Castle to take pictures by Prince William
In a moving encounter keen photographer Liz Hatton, 16, who is battling a rare and aggressive tumour, was asked by the future king to join him at an investiture he was holding to capture participants including Mark Cavendish , Waynes Barnes and Alistair McCoist
Liz received the devastating diagnosis two days after visiting a GP with abdominal pain during the Christmas holidays. Following scans doctors found she had tumours on both her ovaries and liver.
She told the BBC earlier this year: ‘It’s just been a bit of a change of normality, is the easiest way to put it.
‘I used to be very orientation around school work. Now I have stopped all school work entirely. If I only have around three years left to live, what’s the point in A-levels?’
On average only 12 cases of the cancer are diagnosed in England each year and it is so rare there is no standard care treatment.
Funds are currently being raised for Liz to enlist the help of a US-based expertise.
Liz was advised to ‘follow her heart’ and is now pursuing a wish list of photography experiences around her own chemotherapy treatment.
She has pictured the military, West End shows and television shows. She took up photography in Year 6 after saving up to get her first camera.
The Princess’s poignant first pictures of herself carrying out royal engagements are another sign she is prioritising things important to her while she continues her cancer recovery.
Among the things the royal mother-of-three has continued to cherish in her recovery are her faith, her early years work and ballet.
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