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Prince William had a sporty Saturday with Prince George. The Prince of Wales, 41, attended the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London on May 25 with his 10-year-old son, who also loves soccer. As president of the Football Association, William awarded the trophy to the winning team.
Photos from the stadium show the Prince of Wales greeting the teams before the game, shaking hands with United's attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes, the team's manager Erik ten Hag, and City's midfielder Phil Foden. William was also photographed sitting next to Prince George as they watched the match together. William wore a dark blue suit, white shirt, and a red, white, and blue striped tie, while George wore a dark suit with a blue and white striped tie. The game ended with Manchester United winning 2-1 over Manchester City.
This outing came after Prince William and other royal family members canceled their engagements this week. Following U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's call for a surprise general election in early July, Buckingham Palace announced on May 21 that the royals would postpone engagements "which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign." The royals, who remain constitutionally non-political, traditionally step back during campaigns. "Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result," a spokesperson added.
Events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, including King Charles' first overseas trip since his cancer diagnosis in February, are expected to proceed as planned. However, other events, such as a state visit at Buckingham Palace for the Emperor and Empress of Japan scheduled for late June, are under review and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Prince William has been seen at several Aston Villa games in recent weeks, as both his wife, Kate Middleton, and his father, King Charles, undergo cancer treatment. Aston Villa reached the UEFA Champions League for the first time, prompting a congratulatory tweet from their royal fan.
"He has been hugely buoyed by the results of Aston Villa," a close source told PEOPLE. "You shouldn't overlook the importance of soccer in these moments."
William attended an Aston Villa game on April 11 with Prince George, confirming his eldest child is following in his footsteps as a Villa fan. When asked if Prince George was now "part of the pride," William responded, "Oh yes, he's loving it," according to sports journalist Neil Moxley, who shared the exchange on X.
