Prince William sent a congratulatory message to Aston Villa after winning the Europa League, ending a 44-year wait for a European trophy.
On 21 May 2026, Prince William of Wales congratulated Aston Villa after his favorite team won the 2025-26 Europa League by defeating Freiburg 3-0 in the final last night.
This victory gave Aston Villa their first major title in 30 years since winning the League Cup in the 1995-96 season, and their first European trophy in 44 years since winning the European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) in the 1981-82 season.
Prince William attended the Europa League final at Besiktas Park in Istanbul, Turkey, cheering on Aston Villa from the sidelines. He was fully engaged in the match before congratulating the team and lifting the trophy alongside manager Unai Emery and all the players in a friendly manner.
After the game, Prince William posted on social media congratulating Aston Villa, saying, “What a magical night! Huge congratulations to the players, staff, and everyone involved with the club! It’s been 44 years since the team last lifted a European trophy!”
“A special thanks to Boubacar Kamara, who, despite injury, was a vital part of the team and helped lay the foundation for this success.”
Prince William is a dedicated fan of Aston Villa, having chosen to support the club during his secondary school years because he did not want to follow the big teams his classmates supported. He has been impressed by the atmosphere created by the fans ever since.
