Prince William stayed up at Windsor to watch England's victory over Mexico as the team advances toward the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19. As FA Patron, he maintains direct contact with players and staff — several hold his personal number — and will fly to the final as an official representative if England qualifies.

His club allegiance runs deeper. William celebrated Aston Villa's 3-0 Europa League triumph over Freiburg in Istanbul on May 20, the club's first European title since 1982 — his birth year. Captain John McGinn confirmed the future king visited the dressing room before and after the match, calling him "a classy guy" and "a massive Villa fan."

William's fandom extends beyond VIP access. He listens to the Claret and Blue podcast, told hosts Mat Kendrick and Dan Rolinson he'd like to appear, and appeared on Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast — revealing King Charles "hates football." Unlike the royal family's traditional horseracing and tennis ties, his Villa loyalty, chosen as a teenager over global brands like Manchester United, resonates with supporters.

The connection matters. In a nation where nine million watched England's latest match, William's unfiltered celebrations — "limbs" in fan parlance — bridge the gap between monarchy and public. Whether he can maintain such visible partisanship as king remains the test, but for now, a World Cup win would deliver the ultimate royal bragging rights.