Prince William Attends UEFA Champions League Match in Monaco Following Kate Middleton's Remission Announcement
On January 21, 2025, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, made a solo visit to the Stade Louis II in Monaco. He attended the UEFA Champions League match between his favorite soccer team, Aston Villa, and AS Monaco, PEOPLE reported.
This match allowed William to fulfill a long-time dream of watching Aston Villa play abroad. His appearance came after the recent news that his wife, Kate Middleton, is in remission from cancer, shared on January 14. William expressed his strong desire to support his team during this rare opportunity in the top European competition.
Joining him for the evening were friends Thomas van Straubenzee and Nicholas van Cutsem. Van Straubenzee serves as one of Princess Charlotte's godfathers, while van Cutsem has known William since childhood and is also a godfather to Prince Louis. Although the trio cheered enthusiastically, they witnessed Aston Villa lose 1-0.
The connection between William's birth year and Aston Villa is notable. He was born in 1982, the same year Villa last won the European Cup. This year marks their return to the competition after several decades. The prince has attended their matches as they advance through this prestigious event.
On a prior podcast, William mentioned that his friends encouraged him to support Aston Villa based on their storied history. "I was born in '82, and friends wanted me to back Villa, which succeeded," he stated during the "That Peter Crouch Podcast'' in 2020.
William elaborated, "They explained the club's heritage, emphasizing their 1982 European Cup victory. From there, I felt a genuine connection with Aston Villa, stronger than any other team." He also noted that he deliberately chose an alternate route than the most popular teams, stating, "I didn’t want to support Man U or Chelsea. Villa had a genuine history."
In the days leading up to the Monaco match, the prince showcased his dedication to the team and its fans. On January 15, he stunned supporters by visiting a local pub in Birmingham, where fans met to celebrate the team's recent 1-0 win over Everton. During this visit, he covered a round of drinks at Wetherspoons.
William completed a visit to his homelessness charity, Centrepoint, before heading to Monaco. He has been a patron of the charity, a cause he inherited from his late mother, Princess Diana, for the past 20 years.
Upcoming, Prince William plans to visit Liverpool on January 23, where he will spend the day engaging with the community.
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