Prince George ‘loves soccer’ and is ‘captivated with Aston Villa’

Prince George ‘loves his football’ and is ‘passionate about Aston Villa’, according to his family member Mike Tindall.

Mike, 45, who is married to King Charles‘s niece Zara, is known to have a close relationship with the 11-year-old royal and was seen affectionately ruffling his hair during December’s Christmas day service. 

In his new book, The Good, the Bad & the Rugby: Unleashed with James Haskell and Alex Payne, Mike said: ‘George loves his football.’

He added: ‘He’s passionate about Aston Villa, too. Wherever he is, he’ll sit down and watch that game.’

The Prince and Princess of Wales‘s eldest son has followed his father’s example – Prince William, 42, has long been a huge fan of the Birmingham-based, Premier League football club and regularly attends matches. 

In March 2023, the royal father and son attended an Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest match together, with George adorably mirroring William’s animated gestures. 

At that match, George and William, both sporting astonished expressions, brought their hands to their heads at just the same moment. 

George also accompanied his father to the Euros final in Germany this summer. 

Mike also shared that he and George, 11, have played football together ‘numerous times in the garden’.   

And, giving an insight into the Princess of Wales’s sporting pursuits, Mike added: ‘They’re just a family who love sport. Catherine loves her running.’ 

The Princess of Wales has at previous engagements enjoyed abseiling, tennis, football and even a foot race with her husband Prince William and his now-estranged brother Prince Harry. 

In recent weeks, she has been making a slow but steady return to engagements after completing her chemotherapy treatment, visiting victims in Southport with her husband and meeting teenager Liz Hatton at Windsor Castle.   

Prince William is known to enjoy a ‘bromance’ with Tindall – so it comes as no surprise that Mike is also close to his eldest son.

Speaking to The Times earlier this year, one royal source dubbed Mike, 45, and Zara, 43, the ‘glue of their generation of royals, no matter how serious the occasion’.

‘They can help take the family’s mind off the gravity of what is going on,’ the source added.

‘While some family members can be very ‘royal’, Mike is just himself and is relaxed and playful with George, Charlotte and Louis.

‘It helps that they all have children around the same age that they can fool around together privately and bring a sense of normality to what is a stressful situation for everyone involved.’  

Mike interviewed William for his podcast – The Good, The Bad and The Rugby – last year.

There, the Prince of Wales revealed that Zara’s victory in equestrian eventing was the only occasion he’d been moved to tears while watching sport.

During the discussion at Windsor Castle, the father-of-three said: ‘The only time I’ve ever cried when watching sport was when Zara won I think it was the European championship.

‘I was down in Exmoor at the time camping. We were all huddling around the phone watching it. She was there she was blubbing away the flag was going up. I was in pieces.’

William’s wife, Kate and Zara’s mother – William’s aunt – Princess Anne, herself an accomplished equestrian, also appeared on the podcast. 

Continuing the discussion, Kate said: ‘I can remember because you came back and said I’ve never been so proud of anyone.’

William, along with his brother Harry, were raised in Gloucestershire, just a few miles from where Zara and her brother Peter Phillips grew up. The four royal cousins were often spotted chatting and joking at royal events.

Mike Tindall and William may seem like an unlikely pairing, but the two men can be seen sharing a joke or even a hug at royal events. 

William, heir to the throne, was educated at Eton before completing his degree at St Andrews. He prefers football to rugby, which was more his brother Harry’s sport.

Mike attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, in Wakefield becoming a professional rugby player for Bath at the age of 18.

Yet the pair are also hands-on fathers and enjoy catching up at the polo or the races, where they often give each other warm greetings.

William and Mike have been photographed looking pally at several public engagements, with the ex-England rugby player going along to support the royal at polo matches in the past.

It’s clear the pair are on such good terms that Mike felt comfortable enough to poke fun at the future King in a recent podcast, saying he calls the heir to the throne ‘One Pint Willy’ because ‘he is not the best of drinkers’.

Both have also been with their wives for almost 20 years – Tindall was 25 when he and Zara were introduced at the 2003 World Cup. William and Kate met at university.

It would seem that Zara and Kate are also good friends – the two mothers have been pictured sharing a laugh and deep in conversation at royal events.  

One touching moment was at the 2012 Olympics when Kate was spotted waving enthusiastically at Zara, who won a Silver medal as part of the eventing team.

Zara in particular also shares a close bond with her cousins Eugenie and Beatrice, who she often hugs at high-profile royal events.

Social media shy Beatrice made a rare post on X in 2022, to show her support for Mike’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! stint, dubbing her cousin’s husband ‘the greatest’.

Mike has also had his fair share of fun with the Royal Family relatives – that same year he poked fun at his wife and Eugenie’s colourful gowns in a humorous Instagram post comparing them to Starburst wrappers.