Prince William, an avid Aston Villa fan and President of the Football Association, met with England‘s new head coach, Thomas Tuchel, at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
The private meeting, which lasted for over an hour, allowed Tuchel to share his views on the national team since taking on the role earlier this year, as well as his hopes for the future.
According to royal aides, the conversation also likely touched on Aston Villa’s success in their European campaign, as the club continues to impress on the international stage.
Mark Bullingham, CEO of the Football Association, was also present for the meeting.
Tuchel preparing for his debut as England coach
Tuchel, who took over from Gareth Southgate as England manager in January, has already attended several Premier League games. His first match in charge will be against Albania next month.
Kensington Palace shared a message on social media marking the occasion.
“Great to meet new England men’s manager Thomas Tuchel for the first time today, and hear about plans for the team,” the statement read.
This was actually the second time Prince William and Tuchel had met. The first was during Villa’s match against Celtic in January, where the two had a chance to speak.
The Prince, 42, has long been a supporter of Aston Villa, explaining in the past that he chose the club due to its proximity to his Gloucestershire roots and a desire to follow a team outside the more predictable options like Manchester United or Chelsea. It seems his son, Prince George, is following suit, attending major matches with his father.
