Prince George Misses Royal Event After Last Year’s Surprise Appearance With Prince William

Prince George was noticeably absent from this year’s Remembrance Day Festival at the Royal Albert Hall where he had accompanied his father Prince William for the important royal occasion last year.

The young royal’s absence attracted attention because his appearance in 2025 marked a notable moment, with George stepping in alongside his father at the annual event.

However, there was a straightforward reason for his absence this time, as William was available to attend the ceremony himself and there was no need for his eldest son to accompany him.

George is also returning to his school routine following the half-term break, with his education remaining a priority as he approaches his teenage years.

The 13-year-old has recently enjoyed some time away from his usual commitments, including a special trip to Barcelona with William to watch their beloved Aston Villa play football.

The father-and-son outing offered another glimpse into their close relationship, with the Prince of Wales gradually sharing some of his personal interests with his eldest child.

Football appears to be one of the strongest connections between the pair, particularly because William has supported Aston Villa for many years.

Now, as George follows his father’s footsteps at Eton College, a royal expert believes that their shared football allegiance could create an interesting situation among his school friends.

Writing for HELLO!, royal contributor Rachel Avery suggested that George could find himself in the minority because of his support for Aston Villa.

Many pupils at Eton are expected to support some of the country’s biggest football clubs, particularly those based in London and the surrounding areas.

“Many of the pupils [at Eton], who will be from London and the Home Counties will side with one of the ‘big six’ teams, as they are known,” Avery explained.

The six clubs she referenced are Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Aston Villa, despite its rich football history, is not part of that group, meaning George could have a different choice from many of his classmates.

Interestingly, William previously revealed that his decision to support Villa was partly influenced by his desire to avoid following the same teams as his school friends.

He explained that many of his friends supported Manchester United or Chelsea, but he wanted to choose a club that offered a different experience.

“All my friends at school were either Man United fans or Chelsea fans and I didn’t want to follow the run of the mill teams,” the Prince of Wales once said.

William also described supporting Aston Villa as an emotional “roller coaster”, adding that the club had a great history.

His comments offer an amusing insight into how the future King developed his football loyalty, which now appears to have influenced his eldest son as well.

As George continues his education and develops his own interests, it remains to be seen whether he will experience the same friendly football rivalries his father once encountered at school.

For now, the young prince appears happy to share William’s passion for Aston Villa, even if some of his classmates may support very different teams.