Prince William appeared to pass on words of encouragement - if not tactical advice - to Aston Villa manager Unai Emery ahead of his side's stunning Europa League comeback against Nottingham Forest on Thursday evening.
The die-hard fan and heir to the throne was overcome with emotion in the stands as he watched Emery and Co overturn the 1-0 deficit from the first leg against their Premier League rivals in some style, courtesy of goals from Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, and a penalty coolly taken by Emi Buendia.
The victory on home turf confirmed the Birmingham-based side's first appearance in a European final since winning the European Cup final in 1982. Villa will now begin preparations to face Bundesliga side Freiburg in Istanbul on May 20, much to the delight of one of their most high-profile supporters, with Daily Mail Sport understanding that the future King will be at the final to watch his side go for glory.
As well as speaking to Emery before kick-off, the Prince of Wales also greeted McGinn, before catching up with a jubilant Matty Cash and team-mate Lucas Digne after the final whistle. For Villa's players, Prince William's presence in the dressing room would have come as little surprise, with Cash revealing his close bond with the squad two seasons ago.
'We hear from him quite a bit,' Cash said when discussing another European outing for the Prince with Villa in October 2023. 'He comes to training sessions. He speaks to us like a normal guy and we treat him that way when he comes.' Cash also confirmed his friendship with England star and club captain Tyrone Mings, adding: 'He likes to be around the lads because he is a massive Villa fan. He knows our names and our nicknames, everything. He is a proper supporter who loves coming to Villa Park. Tyrone speaks to him quite a bit, I think.'
As well as making frequent appearances at the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground, Prince William is a supporter over land and sea, joining the club on recent European exploits in Paris and Monaco during last season's Champions League spin. When Villa faced off with Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital, the Prince was even interviewed pre-match by TNT Sports, offering a warning to Emery and Co to beware lethal playmaker Vitinha.
At full-time on Thursday night, Prince William - who had cut a nervous figure for stretches of the contest - celebrated wildly, dancing along to Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline over the speaker system, before visiting the dressing room to offer his congratulations. But the Prince may have also sought to improve his chances of hearing the ever-present victory anthem in a different context this summer, with the Patron of the FA exchanging words at Villa Park with England head coach Thomas Tuchel. The German manager was in attendance as he mulls his final World Cup squad ahead of this summer's tournament.
