Prince William celebrates with Aston Villa followers as future King’s beloved membership triumphs over Celtic in essential Champions League conflict
The Prince of Wales joined thousands of Aston Villa fans to watch his boyhood club take on Scottish side Celtic in a crucial Champions League clash on Wednesday night.
Prince William, 42, was spotted in the stands at Villa Park in Birmingham looking tense as Aston Villa took on the Scottish side, before celebrating the English team’s 4-2 victory over Celtic at full-time.
The future King has been a fan of Aston Villa since his school days and attends matches as often as he can to show his support for Unai Emery‘s side.
Tonight was no different, as William remained on the edge of his seat while watching the 90-minute game that ended in a thrilling victory for the hosts.
William, who looked dapper in a navy overcoat and a shirt, was clearly getting into the game as he held his head in his hands, before springing out of his seat when the second goal was confirmed and pumping his fists in the air.
The future King, who often takes his son Prince George to football games, has even admitted to losing his voice from cheering Aston Villa on previous occasions.
Two weeks ago, William surprised punters when he popped in for a pint of cider at a Wetherspoons located at Birmingham New Street Station.
During his visit, he spoke to Aston Villa fans ahead of the team’s match against Everton – one of whom later revealed that William uses a ‘secret name’ online to follow the latest news and transfer rumours on fan forums

Prince William, 42, has been a fan of Aston Villa since his school days and often attends matches when he can to show his support for Unai Emery ‘s club

The Prince of Wales let his emotions show as he watched the team score two goals

The future King, who often takes his son Prince George to football games, has even admitted to losing his voice from cheering Aston Villa on previous occasions
Fellow supporter Steve Jones told the Athletic: ‘He said he keeps abreast of Villa gossip because he is on all the fans’ forums.
‘He goes under different names and he posts on there because that’s how he gets the feeling of what’s going on and what’s the opinion,’ Jones recalled his
His latest appearance comes on the same day that William visited a 2024 Earthshot Prize finalist, research organisation NatureMetrics in Surrey.
William appeared to be in high spirits as he and school children in Guildford filtered DNA samples through a syringe after extracting water from a local pond.
And the royal playfully turned the tables on the media, joyfully dousing the reporters present with the water collected and declaring: ‘This is, like, the best day of my life!’
He was encouraged to cheekily have a go at journalists by the founder of Nature Metrics, Dr Kat Bruce, during his trip.
During a pond-dipping session, he was handed a syringe from which samples would be taken to test what local wildlife and bacteria were present in the lake.

William, who looked dapper in a navy overcoat and a shirt, was clearly getting into the game as he held his head in his hands

He was seen pumping his fists in the air, showing his delight at Villa’s success in the UEFA Champions League match, as they went head-to-head with Celtic
Asked to expel the excess water, Dr Bruce suggested shooting it towards a small group of media covering the engagement – much to the royal’s delight.
Afterwards he said: ‘It wasn’t my idea! I could just claim I was giving in.’
‘It was perfect spraying at the journalists,’ he was heard to say mischievously as he stood in an adjacent corridor to the press pack.
Hearing the conversation one reporter shot back: ‘We’re here!’
William shot his head around the corner, grinning: ‘I know!’
NatureMetrics is a UK based nature company which enables companies to measure and report on their impact on nature and ecosystems.
The company uses environmental DNA (eDNA) found in the surroundings to identify individual species using easy-to-collect water, air or soil samples.

William, 42, appeared to be in high spirits as he and local school children in Guildford filtered DNA samples through a syringe after extracting water from a local pond

And the royal playfully turned the tables on the media, joyfully dousing them with the water collected and declaring: ‘This is, like, the best day of my life!’

During a pond-dipping session, he was handed a syringe from which samples would be taken to test what local wildlife and bacteria were present in the lake

The Prince of Wales was obviously in his element visiting the firm, a finalist in his 2024 Earthshot Prize awards, designed to scale up some of the most positive solutions to the global environmental crisis
This eDNA then offers a detailed picture of a site’s biodiversity and a full spectrum of life, including anything from bacteria to blue whales, enabling businesses to understand the natural world around their operations and make informed operational and financial decisions, driving a shift towards a more sustainable global economy.
Since becoming a Finalist, NatureMetrics has secured a $25 million investment, raised with support from The Earthshot Prize’s investment platform Launchpad.
Dressed in practical boots, chinos and a jacket, William was initially taken down to a lake on the research park where local schoolchildren were helping to extract eDNA samples with founder Cat and social media science communicator ‘Big Manny’.
‘Great so we can see how it actually works,’ he said enthusiastically .
‘You guys are very good at science,’ he added as the children spoke knowledgeable about what they were about to do.
He was asked to put on gloves so as not to contaminate the samples, Dr Bruce explaining that previously samples had been contaminated by the ‘tuna sandwich people had for lunch’.
‘Look at the size of these syringes, wow!’ he remarked.

This eDNA then offers a detailed picture of a site’s biodiversity and a full spectrum of life, including anything from bacteria to blue whales

The Prince of Wales pictured with Dr Kat Bruce founder of nature metrics as they look at DNA samples extracted from areas around the world
‘Huge. Half a pond.’
Dr Bruce encouraged her team to demonstrate ‘all at once how we filter the water’.
‘The question is where we should squirt the water towards? I wonder if we could do an extra big squirt…’ and gestured towards the media.
William’s lips twitched and he said: ‘Because you have suggested it I think it’s a great idea. I couldn’t suggest it but….
Grimacing as he pushed down the plunger he laughed: ‘Nearly, so nearly!’
Going in for a second go he admired one of the children’s ‘full loaded’ efforts.
‘Go on, go on… oh it won’t quite make it,’ he said.
After the fun the prince visited the laboratories where all samples are analysed.