Celtic’s Champions League clash with Aston Villa had Prince Willian in the stands and the Hoops support made sure he was given a Glasgow welcome.
The Prince of Wales, a well-known Aston Villa fan, was at Villa Park to watch his side seal a 4-2 win over Celtic, securing their place in the Champions League last 16. However, the travelling support made their feelings on the monarchy clear throughout the night.
Throughout the match, Celtic fans were heard chanting, “If you hate the Royal Family, clap your hands”. This isn’t special to Prince William’s attendance; the anti-monarchy sentiment is a regular part of the Celtic fan’s repertoire on away days. A large portion of the fanbase view the monarchy as an outdated, privileged institution that has no place in today’s society
Adding to the anti-monarchy sentiment, there were a few banners that were aimed at the monarchy that we’ll leave to your imagination or your Google search!
At the start of the match, the Hoops support unfurled a banner in Basque which read, “With the privileged ones”
While the away end made headlines off the park, Brendan Rodgers’ side battled hard on it but ultimately came up short. After falling 2-0 behind within five minutes, Celtic hauled themselves back into the game thanks to an Adam Idah double, before Villa’ restored their lead in the second 45.
Despite the defeat, Celtic’s Champions League campaign continues, with the Hoops set to face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the play-off round.
