Prince William could not contain his excitement as he threw his arms around fellow fans and joked about going dancing in the fountains while celebrating Aston Villa’s Europa League final win.
Villa beat Freiburg in Istanbul on Wednesday night. Their first European trophy since the 1980s. The Prince of Wales, a lifelong supporter was there to roar them on.
And after the final whistle? He let loose.
‘What an amazing night’
Two fans found themselves sharing a joyous moment with the future king. Mat Kendrick and Dan Rolinson, hosts of the Claret & Blue Podcast for Villa supporters, couldn’t believe it when William called them over by name.
Footage of the encounter shows Mat and the Prince leaning over the balcony for a hug.
“What an amazing night,” William declared.
When Mat pointed out the pitch invasion, William admitted: “I was tempted to go down there, but I thought, ‘Let’s let everyone else have their moment.’ This is about the players, the team and the fans. This is really important.”
Then came the cheeky exchange.
Dan jokingly asked William: “Are we going to go dancing in the fountains together tonight?”
William’s reply? “You lead the way, mate. I’ll follow you.”
Dressing room party
The Prince didn’t stop at the stands. He was later pictured alongside Unai Emery who won his fifth Europa League and Villa director Damian Vidagany, the trio sharing a picture with the massive trophy.
Then came the dressing room party. Maja Lindelof, wife of Villa defender Victor, shared an image of William partying with the team’s family and friends. Her caption? A phrase that translates to ‘off the rails’.
Beers. Celebrations. A future king letting his hair down.
A stunning season
Villa had already secured a return to the Champions League even before their Europa League triumph. On the final day, they can wrap up fourth spot.
Emery continues to excel in the Midlands, further etching his name into Europe’s secondary tournament. Five Europa League wins now. Three with Sevilla. One with Villarreal. One with Aston Villa.
The bottom line
Prince William has seen Villa through thick and thin. Relegation battles. Near misses. False dawns.
This was different. This was glory.
A hug for a fan. A joke about fountains. A dressing room party.
The Prince of Wales celebrated like every other Villa supporter. Because that’s what he is, a fan. Just one with a slightly more famous face.
