Prince William revealed after a surprise appearance on The Graham Norton show that he posts anonymously on Aston Villa fan forums. Justin Hawthorne, speaking on BBC Radio WM, said that from what he has seen, the Prince of Wales sounds like someone who really follows the club rather than a celebrity drifting in and out.
What Hawthorne said about William
Hawthorne was asked about the story on BBC Radio WM, and his view was pretty clear. "I've seen him on the telly a few times like before games and stuff when he was interviewed and he really knows his stuff," he said. He added, "So I think he would just come across as a very well read Villa fan to be honest."
That matches the picture Hawthorne sketched of someone who does more than watch from a distance. "They said [that] he's not like a celebrity fan. He's a proper, proper fan. He knows his stuff," he said. "He studies the team, he goes and watches them at the training ground."
The point of the story is not that William is some kind of hidden club insider. The only claim here is simpler, and more interesting for Villa supporters, that he sounds like a genuine fan with a working knowledge of the team.
Villa's current backdrop
The timing also lands during a strong spell for Aston Villa. Unai Emery's side have won their last three matches, sit second in the Champions League league phase with 9 points from 3 matches, and are ninth in the Premier League with 11 points from 8 matches.
Hawthorne also said some of his friends met the prince last year at a Wetherspoon pub in Birmingham, which only adds to the slightly surreal feel of the whole thing. He said he will be watching the comment section when he does a live video for Villa's match against Bournemouth.
William's anonymous forum habit is the headline, but Hawthorne's verdict is the real reason the story has stuck. The next time Villa fans see him talking about the club, they will probably be listening a bit more closely.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
