Prince William attended a significant soccer match alone on Thursday night, sparking a wave of online reactions. The event coincided with his daughter, Princess Charlotte’s ninth birthday, which did not go unnoticed by social media users. William was seen in the stands at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, supporting his long-time favorite team, Aston Villa, as they faced Greek club Olympiacos in the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final.
This appearance was notably different from a similar event last month, where William was accompanied by his eldest son, Prince George. The absence of his family members, especially on Charlotte’s birthday, led to a flurry of comments on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Kensington Palace had released a new photo of Charlotte to mark her birthday, adding to the public’s curiosity about William’s solo outing.
One user sarcastically remarked, “Look at William celebrating his daughter’s birthday! Alone at a sporting event.” Another pointed out the prince’s reduced royal duties since Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosis in March, questioning his priorities. “Prince William isn’t able to do royal work for months now due to having to ‘take care of his sick wife,’ but today, on his daughter’s birthday, he was able to attend #AVLOLY,” read a post that quickly went viral, garnering over 100,000 views.
Despite the criticism, many fans defended William’s decision to attend the match. One supporter noted, “At what point do people realize that the football kicks off at 8 PM and most kids are in their beds by that time because it’s a school night?” Another questioned the fairness of the criticism, asking, “Is it okay for William to be enjoying himself watching football matches every now and then while his wife is in chemotherapy?”
Kensington Palace has not commented on the matter. This isn’t the first time a royal has faced scrutiny for attending a sporting event on a child’s birthday. Prince Harry was similarly criticized for playing polo on his son Archie’s third birthday in 2022 and for attending King Charles III’s coronation on Archie’s fourth birthday while his family stayed in California.
William’s presence at the match did not bring luck to Aston Villa, who lost 2-4 to Olympiacos. Cameras captured his reactions throughout the game, showing both his celebrations and disappointments.
The prince’s appearance comes amid a challenging period for the royal family. Princess Kate, diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, has been undergoing chemotherapy. Her diagnosis was publicly revealed in March, following abdominal surgery in January. Kate has since taken a step back from public duties to focus on her health and family.
The royal family has faced various controversies and challenges recently. Kate’s health issues have been a significant concern, with reports of hospital staff attempting to access her private medical records. The London Clinic, where Kate underwent surgery, confirmed a security breach, leading to an ongoing investigation.
Additionally, the royal family has dealt with a photo editing controversy involving a picture of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her great-grandchildren, taken by Kate. The image was found to have been digitally enhanced, leading to retractions by several news agencies and a public apology from Kate.
Despite these challenges, the royal family continues to fulfill their duties. William has resumed his public engagements, often stepping in for his father, King Charles III, who is also undergoing cancer treatment. The family has shown resilience, with Kate making a public appearance at the Trooping the Colour event in June, her first since her diagnosis.
As the royal family navigates these personal and public challenges, William’s solo appearance at the soccer match highlights the scrutiny they face in balancing their private lives with public expectations.
