Prince William, a lifelong soccer fan and devoted supporter of Aston Villa, recently found himself the target of cruel chants during a public appearance at a game.

He has often spoken about his love for the club, once telling the BBC: “Aston Villa has always had a great history. I have friends who support Villa, and one of the first FA Cup games I attended was Bolton vs. Aston Villa back in 2000.”

Over the years, fans have welcomed his presence at matches, recognizing his loyalty to the team. However, at a recent Champions League game between Aston Villa and Celtic, opposing fans unleashed a brutal four-word chant directed at him.

Public Reaction to the Taunts

Many people quickly condemned the behavior, showing support for the prince.

One person wrote: “No need for it, the guy loves soccer and needs respect. Should be allowed to watch in peace.”

Another added: “That’s cruel. He’s a father whose wife has gone through treatment for cancer and his father is still going through treatment, plus being a parent to three children. Have some compassion.”

A third comment read: “The man was born into his life, the same way we all were, so it doesn’t justify hatred and insult, the same way we don’t like it…”

A History of Tension

This isn’t the first time Celtic fans have taken aim at the royal family.

In 2022, shortly after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, the club was fined for displaying anti-monarchy banners at a Champions League match. The banners read: “F*** the crown” and “Sorry For Your Loss Michael Fagan.”

The latter referred to a 1982 incident when Michael Fagan broke into Buckingham Palace and entered the queen’s bedroom, just days after Prince William was born. The breach became one of the most infamous royal security failures, and Fagan was later diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The Recent Controversy

At the Villa Park match, Celtic fans revived the Fagan reference on banners and chanted: “If you hate the royal family, clap your hands.” According to MailOnline, the crowd also engaged in songs mocking the queen and Prince Harry, with another disturbing chant—“Lizzie’s in a box”—aimed at the late Queen Elizabeth II.

In response, Aston Villa supporters proudly waved Union Jack flags and sang the national anthem to counter the opposition’s abuse.

Despite the harsh treatment from Celtic fans, Prince William remained composed, and his team emerged victorious with a 4-2 win.