Prince William Says Bringing Prince George to Paris Soccer Game Was a Big Deal

Prince William and Prince George’s team may not have gotten the win at a Paris soccer game, but the father and son had another goal: a memorable night together.

The Prince of Wales, 42, brought his 11-year-old son to support Aston Villa in their UEFA Champions League soccer match against Paris Saint-Germain on April 9. Although Aston Villa lost 3-1, William was excited to take in a big game with his eldest child — and the duo were seen celebrating in the stands during the game.

Speaking with TNT Sports, Prince William was asked about his plans for the evening with his “mates”: “Well, I’ve got my son here as well, so I’m on best behavior,” he quipped.

“But I thought, it’s been 43 years since anything like this has happened in my generation as a Villa fan, and I want George to experience a night out away from home in a big European competition,” the Prince of Wales said, referring to the team’s first European quarterfinal in over four decades. “I hope it’s not 43 years until the next time it happens, but I think those memories are really important to create and to bring him along tonight is a big deal for me.”

William said he wasn’t pushing his favorite team onto his three children — he’s also a dad to Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, with Kate Middleton — but they have been properly introduced to the option.

The royal said, “I’ve left the other two at home. They’re probably watching tonight.”

Prince George often joins his father at soccer games, hinting that he will continue his father’s tradition of supporting Aston Villa. Prince William once said his eldest son was “part of the pride,” a phrase Villa supporters use to describe their team’s followers.

Prince William also previously revealed that his three children play a role in his superstitions.

“If we’re not doing very well, I start moving round the house quite quickly and I put the children in different positions hoping that’s going to change our luck,” he told The Sun in an interview published on March 14.

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Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are currently on a school break ahead of the Easter holiday. Prince William and Princess Kate, 43, typically try to keep work to a minimum when their kids are on break in order to spend time as a family — often outdoors. In a rare interview with the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast in 2020, Kate revealed that her favorite times with her family are “outside in the countryside and we’re all filthy dirty.”

The couple’s decision to focus on their family during school breaks is just one example of how they’re raising their children differently than previous generations of royals.

“Those children look pretty happy with life,” a palace insider previously told PEOPLE. “A lot of it is the stabilizing normality Kate brings — and that’s how she grew up. William absolutely loves it.”