Princes William, George attend soccer game together amid Kate Middleton cancer battle

William and George attended the game solo, without Kate or George's siblings.

April 12, 2024, 8:27 AM

Prince William and his son Prince George had a father-son night out Thursday, attending an Aston Villa soccer game in Birmingham, England.

The game marked William's first public appearance since the announcement by his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales, in late March that she had been diagnosed with cancer and begun chemotherapy.

William and George, 10, the eldest of William and Kate's three children, sat next to each other at the game as they cheered on Aston Villa to a 2-1 victory over French team Lille.

PHOTO: Prince William and Prince George watch Tyrone Mings of Aston Villa during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 Quarter-final first leg match between Aston Villa and Lille OSC at Villa Park on April 11, 2024 in Birmingham, England.
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales look on alongside Tyrone Mings of Aston Villa during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 Quarter-final first leg match between Aston Villa and Lille OSC at Villa Park on April 11, 2024 in Birmingham, England.
Marc Atkins/Getty Images

William is not reported to have made any public comments about Kate's health at the game, but he did confirm to one reporter that George is following in his footsteps as an Aston Villa fan.

PHOTO: Prince William and Prince George watch from the stands during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 Quarter-final first leg match between Aston Villa and Lille OSC at Villa Park on April 11, 2024 in Birmingham, England.
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales watch from the stands during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 Quarter-final first leg match between Aston Villa and Lille OSC at Villa Park on April 11, 2024 in Birmingham, England.
Catherine Ivill - Ama/Getty Images

When asked by Sunday Paper sports reporter Neil Moxley if George is "part of the pride," William is said to have replied, "Oh yes, he's loving it," according to an account of the exchange shared by Moxley on X.

PHOTO: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales look on during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 Quarter-final first leg match between Aston Villa and Lille OSC at Villa Park on April 11, 2024 in Birmingham, England.
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales look on during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 Quarter-final first leg match between Aston Villa and Lille OSC at Villa Park on April 11, 2024 in Birmingham, England.
Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Both William and Kate have remained out of the public eye since Kate's March 22 announcement, shared in a video message, that cancer was discovered in post-operative tests after she underwent planned abdominal surgery in mid-January.

The type of cancer has not been disclosed. Kate started a course of preventative chemotherapy in late February, according to Kensington Palace.

The palace said at the time of Kate's announcement that William would take a break from public engagements during his children's Easter holiday from school. George and his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, attend the Lambrook School, a private school near the family's home in Windsor, England.

Kate stepped back from public engagements at the time of her abdominal surgery in mid-January, and has continued that pause through today. The princess asked for privacy for her family in her message announcing her diagnosis, and the palace has said only that she will return to public duties once she is medically cleared to do so.

PHOTO: Catherine, Princess of Wales' released an official  statement on her health on March 22, 2024.
Catherine, Princess of Wales' released an official statement on her health on March 22, 2024.
BBC Studios

William and Kate and their children did not join other members of the royal family, including King Charles III, who is also battling cancer, for the Easter service at St. George's Chapel on March 31.

The Waleses are believed to be spending much of their time out of the spotlight at Anmer Hall, their country estate in Norfolk, England, near the royal family's Sandringham estate.

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