Overview
- Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 to lift the UEFA Europa League, and Prince William watched the victory in person in Istanbul on Wednesday, cheering and visibly moved.
- Before kickoff William visited the Villa dressing room to offer encouragement, and after the final whistle players invited him back into the dressing room where he joined teammates for drinks.
- William sat in the executive box with long-term friends including Edward van Cutsem, Thomas van Straubenzee and Ben Dawes, and he was photographed celebrating and singing in the stand.
- Kensington Palace published a video filmed on William’s phone and an official X message from the Prince, a rare use of personal mobile footage on royal channels that drew extra attention to his presence.
- Villa’s continental success is the club’s first major trophy since 1996 and its first European title since 1982, a milestone that explains the scale of the celebrations and the public interest in the Prince’s close ties to the team.