Prince William's VIP Night: Which Friends Joined Him as Aston Villa Won the Europa League

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Royals (1 / 1) 22.05.2026 04:47 / Olga

Prince William watched Aston Villa lift the UEFA Europa League trophy in Istanbul surrounded by longtime pals — who were the faces in his royal box and what did the celebration look like? Read on to discover the full story!

Friends in the Royal Box

Among those cheering in the stands were Ben Dawes, known as “Dawesey,” wine entrepreneur and co‑founder of Marlo Wines; Edward van Cutsem and his son Jake; and longtime friend Thomas van Straubenzee. The group reflected friendships that go back decades and into family ties with the royal household.

A fan since childhood

William, who has supported Villa since youth, was seen anxiously watching before the final whistle and then celebrating wildly when the score reached 3‑0. He’d talked in 2015 about choosing Villa for the camaraderie and atmosphere — memories that included sitting among Brummie fans in a red beanie at a 2000 FA Cup match.