William jokes with fellow Aston Villa fan at Ascot carriage procession
Prince William's unwavering support for Aston Villa was on full display at Royal Ascot yesterday - as the royal joked with a fellow sporting fan about their team's 'good season'.
As the Prince and Princess of Wales travelled in the carriage procession for the second day of races in Berkshire yesterday, a jovial William, 43, appeared in noticeably high spirits.
The royal couple arrived stylishly matching - with Kate, 44, sporting a bright yellow £1,095 outfit from Roksanda paired with a matching wide-brimmed Pomona hat by Jane Taylor Millinery, while William pinned yellow flowers to his lapel.
And as crowds of royal onlookers gathered to catch a glimpse of the future King and Queen, there was one fan in particular who caught the attention of William.
'Up the Villa!,' the onlooker shouted out in excitement, to which the crowd erupted into laughter before a gleeful William responded: 'Oooh, I think people are saying that now. Are you?'
After the fan in the audience implied that they were a supporter of the Birmingham-based team, William raised his hand in support and nodded enthusiastically before adding: 'Good season' and chuckling.
The hilarious interaction was quickly praised by royal fans who took to Instagram to share their joy at the 'brilliant' prince.
'They seem so lovely and down to earth,' commented one fan. 'He's going to make a great King'.
As the Prince and Princess of Wales travelled in the carriage procession for the second day of races yesterday, a jovial William appeared in high spirits for the annual sporting event in Berkshire
'Up the Villa!,' one onlooker shouted out in excitement, to which the crowd erupted into laughter before a gleeful William responded: 'Oooh, I think people are saying that now. Are you?'
Another added: 'This is just gorgeous! The laughter and love they radiate! Our future King and Queen!'
Other avid fans described the royal couple as 'such genuinely grounded people' and believed the heartwarming moment showed William is 'such a normal man'.
'He's so lovely. He has his mother's eyes and kind heart,' another added.
William's passionate support for Aston Villa spans decades, with the royal first deciding to follow the team during his time at Berkshire's Ludgrove School.
And in recent months, the prince - patron of the Football Association - has been spotted front and centre at several of the team's matches, with one poignant image capturing William becoming overcome with emotion last month.
The Birmingham-based football club seems a somewhat surprising choice for Britain's future King, who is often seen supporting the team at both home and away games.
Deliberately resisting the pull of the more popular teams, William, 43, quickly became a die-hard Villa supporter during his school days and has not looked back since.
'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 told the BBC in 2015.
The Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out at Royal Ascot yesterday for the second day of races - a poignant event for Kate in particular who had not attended Ascot since 2023
Princess Catherine wore bright yellow outfit from Roksanda, worth £1,095
'I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments.'
William was born 26 days after Villa's last European victory - when they lifted the European Cup after defeating Bayern Munich on May 26, 1982.
'Aston Villa’s always had a great history. I have got friends of mine who support Aston Villa and one of the first FA Cup games I went to was Bolton v Aston Villa back in 2000. Sadly, Villa went on to lose to Chelsea (in the final),' he said.
'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.
'It was the atmosphere, the camaraderie and I really felt that there was something I could connect with.'
The Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out at Royal Ascot yesterday for the second day of races - a poignant event for Kate in particular who had not attended Ascot since 2023.
To finish off her bright yellow ensemble, Kate opted for nude Gianvito Rossi heels, an Anya Hindmarch clutch, Queen Elizabeth's diamond earrings and Princess Diana's pearl necklace, worn as a bracelet.
Catherine looked elated to be back in the Windsor Enclosure, enjoying the company of other royals, including Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband Daniel Chatto, as well as her mother, Carole Middleton.
She was joined by King Charles, 77, Queen Camilla, 78, who looked typically elegant in a cream coat dress from Dior, and Princess Anne.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh opted for coordinated black outfits, as Sophie appeared to hold onto her hat as the wind threatened to take it off her head.
Also in attendance was Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who chose a stunning pastel blue dress for the prestigious British racing event.
Last year, royal fans were left disappointed after Kensington Palace confirmed Catherine would skip Ascot to focus on her recovery after completing a preventative course of chemotherapy.
Catherine announced she is in remission from cancer last January as she embarked on a gradual and measured return to public duties.
Royal fans will undoubtedly feel a sense of relief about the princess's recovery after she attended both Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter Service this week.
After the service, Prince William and Catherine were whisked back to Windsor Castle by a royal carriage as fans gushed the princess looked 'absolutely stunning'.
Writing on X, one person said: 'She looks perfectly lovely. The hat is perfection.'
Another person noted Catherine's 'close friendship' with the Duchess of Edinburgh was on full display at the ceremony, writing: 'Lovely to see her and Sophie having a laugh.'
Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, started on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes and the King Charles III Stakes, and will run until Saturday.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
