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Prince William was in the stands at Villa Park on Wednesday night as Aston Villa beat Fenerbahce 6-0 in the Champions League league phase.
The Prince of Wales, a Villa supporter since his school days, punched the air as the home side took an early lead through summer signing Johan Manzambi and kept celebrating as the goals piled up.
The celebration had started a day earlier.
At an Earthshot event on Tuesday, William met a fellow Villa fan and asked, “Can you do the goggles?” He then formed “lenses” with his thumbs and forefingers over his eyes, a nod to the trademark celebration of Villa captain John McGinn.
When the fan copied him, William replied, “Ah, good man!” McGinn started the celebration for his nephew Jack, who wears special eyewear when he plays football, and has said he keeps doing it to raise awareness for other children in the same situation.
Villa’s supporters set the tone before kickoff with a huge banner reading “Our European Story” and “The Next Chapter.”
The club are the defending Europa League champions, having beaten Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul in May, a final William attended.
This was their second match of the Champions League league phase.
On the pitch, Unai Emery’s side were in control from the start.
Manzambi scored the opener, Nicolas Jackson doubled the lead on the half hour and added a third before the break.
Kamara set up Jackson’s first goal in the 31st minute.
William watched alongside his longtime friends Edward Van Cutsem and Ben Dawes, who were also with him in Istanbul in May.
They had more to cheer after halftime, with Ross Barkley scoring twice, the first from the penalty spot, and substitute Tammy Abraham adding a sixth.
The win keeps Villa’s perfect start, with two wins from two in the league phase.
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