The Princess of Wales joked Prince William ‘makes so much noise’ when watching his beloved Aston Villa – as the couple hosted a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

William admitted he had ‘bags under the eyes’ as he hosted the event one day after watching his team reach the Europa League final.

Catherine, meanwhile, revealed that she let her three children stay up to watch the game against Nottingham Forest on Thursday evening.

‘They all make so much noise, even Louis,’ she laughed. ‘They wanted to go to the match but we let them stay up and watch it.’

And she revealed she has even taken up the sport of padel – playing with her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, who are both in their 70s.

The Prince and Princess hosted the second garden party of the season on behalf of the King, supported by William’s cousin, Zara Tindall, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

Catherine, 44, wore a pretty black and white hat with a matching Self Portrait dress and heels, a bracelet that belonged to Princess Diana and a pair of earrings belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth.

William, 43, was dapper in morning dress, complete with a blue waistcoat and red tie.

Some 8,000 guests – many from charities the couple supports and people they have met during their roles as working royals – enjoyed tea and cakes on the lawn of the King’s London residence in brilliant sunshine.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales hosted a royal garden party on Friday afternoon

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The Prince and Princess of Wales during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London

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Catherine, 44, wore a pretty black and white hat with a matching Self Portrait dress and heels, a bracelet and a pair of earrings belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth

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Prince William greets guests at the Buckingham Palace garden party on Friday

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Prince William kisses one blushing guest on the cheek during today’s event

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The Princess of Wales meets guests during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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Princess Catherine meets guests during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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The Prince and Princess of Wales walk side by said during the Royal Garden Party on Friday

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Prince William was beaming as he saw his beloved Aston Villa reach the Europa League final

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The Prince of Wales can look forward to seeing his side face German side Freiburg on May 20

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To the delight of the 8,000-strong crowd they were accompanied by William’s cousin, Zara Phillips also made an appearance

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Zara Tindall meets guests during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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The Duchess of Edinburgh is also in attendance for the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London

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The Princess of Wales beams as she greets guests at the Royal Garden Party

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The Prince and Princess of Wales moved through the crowd greeting some of those in attendance

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The Princess of Wales wore a pretty black and white hat with a matching Self Portrait dress and heels

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The Duke of Edinburgh meets guests during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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The Duchess of Edinburgh speaks to guest attending the Royal Garden Party

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Pricen William, 43, arrived in a morning dress, complete with a blue waistcoat and red tie

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The Princess of Wales meets crew members from HMS Glasgow during the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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The Princess of Wales meets Rhian Mannings (centre) during the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, meets guests during the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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Zara Tindall during the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London

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The Princess of Wales meets members of the Three Flying Fish during the Royal Garden Party

After standing for the National Anthem, the Waleses were reunited with Southport dance teacher Leanne Lucas, who shielded children during the July 2024 knife attack.

Ms Lucas was critically injured in the attack in which three children, Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe lost their lives.

The couple met Ms Lucas last February during a visit to the town.

Prince William told her: ‘It takes a lot of courage to push forwards. You were so brave, you have got so much support.’

Ms Lucas told the Princess: ‘I was in such a dark place last time we met.’

She said afterwards of their conversation: ‘It was like meeting old friends again.

‘We had such personal conversations last time we met. William wanted to keep an eye on my wellbeing, as well as chat about all the knife crime campaigning we’re doing.

‘We have a campaign called Let’s Be Blunt looking at reducing knife harm. So he was really keen to know about what we’re doing there, but then checking in on how I am, how Heidi is, the other teacher, and things like that. So it was a nice conversation.’

She added: ‘Today is just magical. It’s a once in a lifetime experience, so I’m really honoured to even be invited, let alone get to see them again.

‘Last time I met (the Princess), I was quite down, so she just said she was so happy to see me full of energy and passion and enthusiasm again and it’s so nice to see you back to the way that you should be and the way that you were before. It was nice.’

The Prince also caught up with Rhian Mannings, who welcomed him into her Cardiff home last year for an emotional conversation about the impact of suicide.

In 2012, Ms Mannings suddenly lost the youngest of her three children, one-year-old George, to a hidden illness and then her husband, Paul, to suicide five days later.

She first met Prince William in 2017 when they were recorded in conversation for a short film to mark World Mental Health Day.

Ms Mannings told him that ‘so many people reached out’ to her after their most recent conversation was broadcast. The Prince apologised to her daughter for ‘invading’ her home, adding: ‘It was a surprise for everyone I think.’

Their Royal Highnesses also met guests from a number of both their patronages, military affiliations and passion projects including William’s Homewards campaign to end homelessness and tenants across Duchy of Cornwall sites.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess of Wales, Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Garden Party

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The Princess of Wales and Prince of Wales talks to guests at a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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Prince William walks out into the gardens of Buckingham Palace during the Royal Garden Party

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The Princess of Wales greets guests in the garden of Buckingham Palace on Friday

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Yeomen of the Guard during the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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Yeoman Warders march during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London

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Today’s party took place under grey but dry skies, and came after the King hosted a similar event earlier this week

Also invited was Sam Stables, founder of We Are Farming Minds who works to break down the stigma surrounding mental health in the farming community.

The Three Flying Fish – Rowan, Anna and Harry, a team of three young Air Cadets who became the youngest trio to tackle the 3,000-mile ‘World’s Toughest Row’ in January, were also honoured with invitations.

The Prince and Princess of Wales moved through the crowd greeting some of those in attendance – with William even pausing to kiss one blushing guest on the cheek.

Elsewhere, the Princess spoke passionately about how much she enjoyed playing padel, although she admitted that tennis was her real love.

Chatting to representatives from the Lawn Tennis Association, she asked: ‘Have you adopted padel? ‘I love padel, it’s such a good game, such a great leveller for those who don’t play tennis.’

She told another guest: ‘It’s so sociable and all generations can play- I play with my parents.’

She also chatted to one lady about the family’s one-year-old puppy Otto, revealing that ‘unfortunately’ he had ‘chewed quite a lot the other day’.

‘You have to keep them busy,’ she said. ‘The first thing we do in the morning is check ‘has anyone taken Otto out?’

Every summer, the King and royal family host a series of garden parties in London, and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland.

The King and Queen held a similar event earlier this week, and were joined by The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal , and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Historically they served as presentation parties for the debutantes of high society, but now recognise and reward public service instead.

The party begins with the national anthem, before members of the royal family take to the lawns and greet guests.

Typically more than 30,000 people are invited to the events each year.

It’s estimated that in total, guests consume 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake at each party.

Today marks the second garden party of the year, with a third event at the palace to take place on Tuesday, May 12.

The Edinburgh party will take place on June 30.

There will also be two special events this summer, one on Thursday, May 14, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of King Charles’ foundation The King’s Trust, and a second the following week to support veterans’ charity The Not Forgotten.