From the Queen’s love of Arsenal to King Charles being a surprise BURNLEY fan: Who are the Royals’ football teams?
THOUGH Royals are supposed to remain politically neutral, there’s no decree that stops them from showing their bias towards their chosen football teams.
Prince William isn’t shy at hiding his love for Aston Villa and can be found punching the air at home and away games at the sight of a goal.
William is also the President of the English FA, and in the summer of 2021, like most around the country he roared the Three Lions on as they came close to winning their first major tournament since 1966.
King Charles III also likes teams in claret and has a VIP season ticket at Burnley.
But there’s still mystery surrounding who the late Queen Elizabeth II supported.
It had been widely reported The Queen was a West Ham fan, continuing the royal obsession with clubs in a certain shade of purple.
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However, Arsenal are also said to have had a special place in Her Majesty’s heart.
And despite trying to stay neutral, The Queen let slip who she supported on a number of occasions.
So, who do the Royals support?
North or East London, Your Majesty?
Mystery still surrounds who Queen Elizabeth II supported.
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The longest-serving monarch in British history was sure to have seen the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to top-flight football.
And if reports are correct, The Queen, like many Arsenal fans endured an 18-year league trophy drought up until her death last Thursday, and watched on as Arsene Wenger’s glorious 22-year reign come to a bitter end in 2018.
Former Arsenal midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, has insisted that the late Queen was an Arsenal fan.
The Queen once invited Arsenal to Buckingham Palace in 2007.
Fabregas claims Her Majesty told him of her love for Arsenal.
He told Spanish radio: “It seems the Queen follows football and she told us she was an Arsenal fan.
“She appeared to definitely know who I was and we exchanged a few special words.”
The Evening Standard also quoted a royal source at the time who said: “Her Majesty has been fond of Arsenal for over 50 years.”
However, The Queen also has ties to West Ham.
The Queen is said to have openly expressed her support for West Ham at Buckingham Palace in a chat with staff.
Like many Hammers fans who wince at the mentioning of bitter rivals Millwall, The Queen involved herself in a conversation with staff after one revealed he was a supporter of the South London club.
The Mirror quote a Windsor Castle source as saying: “The Queen has never wanted people to know who she supports because she wants to be seen to be neutral.
“But she gave up her secret after overhearing one of her staff members saying he was a Millwall fan and was talking to another member of staff about the derby between West Ham and their arch rivals.
“They were quite shocked – after all, she’s not exactly your typical West Ham fan.”
The Queen also had an admiration for legendary West Ham boss Ron Greenwood.
She also presented England and West Ham icon Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy following the 1966 World Cup final win at Wembley over West Germany.
King Charles Burn-ed by relegation
King Charles III revealed he was a fan of Burnley in 2012.
He was handed a VIP season ticket and invited to watch his favourite team from the Directors’ Box after speaking highly of the club at a dinner for the British Asian Trust at Windsor Castle.
King Charles, 73, who had been doing charity work in the area, said: “A consortium of my charities, including the British Asian Trust, has been working in Burnley.
“Hence, some of you asked this evening whether I support a British football club and I said ‘yes – Burnley’.
“And people have responded, ‘Burnley?’ Oh yes, because Burnley has been through some very challenging times and I’m trying to find ways of helping to regenerate and raise aspirations and self-esteem in that part of the world.
“My charities have been working there together to demonstrate that an integrated approach can produce the best dividends.”
And The King was undoubtedly upset when Burnley faced yet more “challenging times” when they were relegated from the Premier League last season.
But the Clarets could make a swift return to the top flight after a positive start to the Championship season.
Although, King Charles may not get much time to watch Burnley after taking up his new role.
Royal Villan
Prince William is a Royal Villan and he isn’t shy of showing his allegiance to the historic Midlands club.
The Prince of Wales, 40, attends Aston Villa games when he has time, and can be seen punching the air from home and away grounds as the goals fly in for his team.
Today’s Villa are a shadow of the European Cup-winning Villa of old.
But William is glad to be aboard the “emotional rollercoaster” of supporting a mid-table team.
He said: “I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments.
“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.”
William attended his first Villa game aged 11.
Appearing on That Peter Crouch Podcast in 2020, he revealed: “I sat there among all the Villa fans and I loved it and thought the atmosphere was great.
“I felt a real connection with the club and I felt Villa was a very proud Midlands club and it felt very special.”
Prince William has also been President of the FA for over a decade.
The Royal took over the role in May 2006.
William is a regular at FA Cup finals, whether Villa are contesting it or not.
The future King has also used his position to publicly condemn racism in football.
Mental health in football has been another initiative Prince William has advocated for in his role.
In May 2020, William took part in a special BBC documentary titled Prince William, Football, and Mental Health.
William, alongside wife Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, and son Prince George, roared the Three Lions on last summer at the Euros.
William could be seen punching the air as England reached the Wembley final against Italy.
Luke Shaw’s early opener against the Italians got a Royal reaction.
However, Gareth Southgate’s side went on to lose on penalties – denying the Three Lions a major tournament win.
Pain in the Ars
Prince Harry seems to be more of a rugby guy.
But he let slip that he was an Arsenal fan when he refused to talk about the Gunners’ Champions League 5-1 drubbing by Bayern Munich in 2017.
Harry made his views clear on his embattled football team at an England rugby training session.
The 37-year-old pulled a face when asked about who he supported.
As he chatted to sports coach Jack Gair, 19, the Royal asked which football team he supported.
“Man U,” said Jack, who asked the same of Harry.
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“Arsenal,” said Harry and before the teen could say anything more, he put up his hand to signal stop, grimaced and said: “I know. Let’s not talk about it.”
And when conducting charity work with local children at the New Zealand government house in Wellington a few years back he was heard saying “most of the royal family are Arsenal fans”.
