Prince George Joins Prince William for First Public Outing Since Starting Eton

Prince George has made his first public appearance since starting at Eton College, joining his father, Prince William, for an Aston Villa match against FC Barcelona in Spain.

The 13-year-old travelled to Barcelona on Tuesday, November 3, during his school holiday to watch the Champions League fixture at Spotify Camp Nou. The outing marked his first public sighting since beginning boarding school in September, when the Prince and Princess of Wales accompanied him to Eton.

William and George watched from the directors’ box as Aston Villa faced the Spanish side in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase. Both support the Birmingham-based club, making the trip an opportunity for the father and son to watch their team play in one of Europe’s biggest club competitions.

Photo: FC Barcelona

Barcelona president Joan Laporta welcomed the royal visitors before kick-off, presenting William and George with personalised FC Barcelona shirts. The club also acknowledged their attendance in a post on its official social media account, welcoming the Prince of Wales and his eldest son to the stadium.

Photographs from the evening showed George wearing a hooded jacket as rain fell over the stadium. William also dressed casually in a dark jacket and cap. The pair watched the match from the directors’ box, where several former Barcelona players were also present.

Their visit did not produce the result they would have wanted. Barcelona defeated Aston Villa 3-0, with Lamine Yamal scoring in the seventh minute before Raphinha added two goals in the second half. The defeat ended Villa’s winning start to the Champions League campaign after three consecutive victories.

Photo: Getty Images

William’s support for Aston Villa dates back to his school years. In a 2015 interview with the BBC, he explained that he became interested in football while at school, when many of his friends supported Manchester United or Chelsea. He wanted to support a different club and was attracted to Villa’s history, the atmosphere among its supporters and the prospect of following a team that did not always win.

His interest in the club has also influenced his children’s exposure to football. William has previously spoken about watching matches with George and his younger children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. However, he has made clear that he does not expect them all to support Aston Villa, saying he hopes they will eventually choose their own teams.

George’s appearance in Spain came during Eton’s first long leave of the academic year, which began on October 23. He started at the Berkshire boarding school in September, following his father’s footsteps. William attended Eton from 1995 to 2000, while Prince Harry also studied there.

Photo: Getty Images

Before George’s return home for the school break, the Princess of Wales spoke about missing her eldest child. During an appearance in Hoveton, Norfolk, on October 22, Kate told a woman she met that she was looking forward to George coming home. The woman later shared that the Princess had said she missed him.

The Barcelona trip gave George time away from his new school and an opportunity to watch Aston Villa alongside William. Although the club suffered a 3-0 defeat, the match provided a public glimpse of the young prince during his first extended break since beginning his education at Eton.