Prince William has become so invested in Aston Villa that he regularly discusses the club with manager Unai Emery, who has revealed that the royal contacts him about the team almost every day during transfer windows.
The Prince of Wales, 44, has maintained a close relationship with the Midlands club and remains actively involved in following its progress under Emery.
His passion for Villa was highlighted in a special edition of Country Life magazine, guest-edited by the Prince, in which the Spanish manager discussed their relationship and the royal’s commitment to the team.
Emery revealed that William frequently asks about the squad, their performances and plans for upcoming matches.
Emery Reveals Prince William’s Daily Interest in the Team
Speaking about their conversations, Emery explained that the Prince regularly seeks updates, particularly during transfer windows.
“During the transfer window, he’s asking about the team every day,” the Villa manager said.
“How is the team? How are you? How are we going to play some players? How are we going to do? He is always so close to us and we appreciate it so, so much.”
The manager also described William as approachable and humble whenever they spend time together.
He revealed that they have shared lunches, watched training sessions and discussed different aspects of football.
“When he’s with us, he’s a fantastic guy. We’ve had lunch together, he’s watched training sessions, we share conversations, everything about football.
He shows his humble personality with us – I can’t forget it. For me, it seems unbelievable,” Emery said.
He added that although William is their boss, the Prince makes a conscious effort to interact with everyone on an equal level.
“If he’s sitting with us to have lunch, he asks ‘Where am I sitting?’ Wherever you want! It’s fantastic.”
Emery also spoke about the satisfaction the team gets from making the Prince happy through their performances.
“We are scoring, he is celebrating, it is fantastic for us. If we can give him good news, good results, good moments in football, we are proud of it.”
Prince William Says Fatherhood Has Deepened His Love for Football
In the same magazine feature, William opened up about his longstanding affection for football and Aston Villa, revealing that becoming a father has made him even more passionate about the sport.
The Prince regularly attends Villa matches with his son George, who shares his enthusiasm for football.
He described football as a second family, explaining that supporting the same club creates a sense of belonging among fans.
“Football feels like a second family to me, I love the tribal nature of being among others who support the same team.
We all experience the highs and lows of following that team together and you get the feeling that you belong somewhere,” he said.
William also revealed that he previously played as a defender, usually at right-back, and hopes to participate in some five-a-side football matches organised by fathers.
He said having children had significantly increased his interest in the game.
“Since having children, I’ve become even more fanatical than I thought I would be about the game,” he explained.
“I wasn’t like this when I was 18 or 20, I kept an eye from a distance. Now, I probably think and talk about Aston Villa every day.”
The Prince added that he enjoys following the club’s statistics, players’ recovery, tactics and matches.
William Celebrates Villa’s Success Across Europe
William has remained a regular presence at Aston Villa matches, both at Villa Park and during the club’s European fixtures.
He was recently pictured alongside George watching Villa take on Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the Champions League.
The Prince has also celebrated the team’s achievements under Emery, including joining the players in celebrations following their Europa League triumph last season.
His involvement has made him a familiar face around the club as Villa continue to enjoy success under the Spanish manager.
How Prince William Became an Aston Villa Supporter
William previously explained how he became a Villa supporter during his school days at Eton, where he developed an admiration for club legend Paul McGrath.
Unlike many of his schoolmates, who supported Manchester United and Chelsea, he wanted to follow a different team.
Speaking to the BBC in 2015, he explained that he was drawn to the possibility of supporting a club that did not enjoy consistent success.
“A long time ago at school I got into football big time. I was looking around for clubs.
All my friends were either Man United fans or Chelsea fans and I didn’t want to follow the run-of-the-mill teams,” he said.
“I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments.”
William also highlighted Aston Villa’s history and his friendships with supporters of the club as factors behind his decision.
He recalled attending Bolton’s FA Cup match against Villa in 2000, which Villa eventually lost to Chelsea in the final.
Describing the experience, he said he sat among Villa supporters wearing a red beanie and enjoyed the atmosphere alongside the Birmingham fans.
“It was fantastic, I sat with all the fans with my red beanie on, and I was with all the Brummie fans and had a great time.”
He added that the atmosphere, camaraderie and sense of connection among supporters ultimately made Aston Villa the club he wanted to follow.
