The Prince of Wales and his eldest son Prince George attended an Aston Villa football game together in what is their first public outing since the Princess of Wales’ cancer announcement.

Prince William was seen smiling and applauding in the stands of Villa Park in Birmingham while 10-year-old George sported a Villa-branded scarf.

The pair celebrated the club’s 2-1 victory against Lille in the first leg of the Europa Conference League quarter-final.

A one point William was seen turning to his son to say something as he applauded Ollie Watkins’ opening goal for the club.

It is the first time the family have been seen publicly since 22 March when the Princess of Wales revealed she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy after doctors found cancer during planned abdominal surgery.

William, Kate and their three children missed the Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, following the announcement, despite attending last year.

In a video released after weeks of speculation about Kate’s health, she said the diagnosis came as a “huge shock” to both her and William and she was currently in the early stages of treatment.

“It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment,” she said.

“But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.”

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

Since revealing the diagnosis, William and Kate are said to be “enormously touched” and “extremely moved” by the public’s warmth and support.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

The King, who has been carrying out low-key official duties behind palace walls, made his most significant public appearance at the service on 31 March since his own cancer diagnosis was announced at the start of February.

The palace described the monarch as being “so proud” of the Princess of Wales for her courage in speaking out and is said to be in “the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law”.

As a long-term football fan William has previously taken George to matches, including a Villa game in 2019 and to watch England reach the quarter-finals of the Euros 2020, after defeating Germany 2-0.

Earlier this week, William posted a message on the Prince and Princess of Wales social media accounts congratulating the Lionesses’ Rachel Daly on her retirement.

Related posts:

Police appeal after newborn baby found dead in Morrisons car park Protesters gather outside Old Trafford as Man Utd face Liverpool Imam ‘melancholic and upset’ as Muslims hold muted Eid al-Fitr celebrations ‘I just want to hold them’: Dad’s tribute after his two children, their mother and friend ‘on a sleepover’ are killed Manchester to get a ‘green lung’ with its first city park in 100 years Bradford Council stripped of children’s and social care services in wake of Star Hobson’s death Johnson reminds Tory MPs of sweeping electoral victory under his leadership ahead of confidence vote The food bank that ran out of food – because people can no longer afford to donate Johnson told to stop asking Richard Sharp for financial advice days before he was made BBC chair – reports Phillip Schofield ‘took us for fools’, says ex-This Morning presenter UFC fighters separated after pre-bout slur that opponent’s dead father is ‘in hell’ Key findings in the Prince Harry hacking case