Prince William puts on 'iffy Welsh accent' as part of 'disguise' when out with pals

Prince William reportedly dons disguises and adopts an "iffy" Welsh accent when enjoying leisure time with his close friends. The future King was spotted last week enthusiastically celebrating his beloved Aston Villa's Europa League victory in Istanbul alongside his long-standing companions in the stands. It offered a rare insight into how the future monarch derives great joy from life's simpler pleasures – such as watching the football club he supports score a crucial goal. Images of William singing with unbridled enthusiasm were broadcast across the globe. He was accompanied by Thomas van Straubenzee, a former Ludgrove Prep School classmate and now a senior executive at Knight Frank, who serves as godfather to Princess Charlotte, along with Edward van Cutsem, a former banker and godson of King Charles . The 43-year-old was also joined by Ben Dawes, who runs a wine business in Wimbledon. According to a report in the Daily Mail , William and his friends meet up "infrequently" but when they do, it is cherished, and they enjoy barbecues, beer and wine. The group is said to congregate at one another's homes to steer clear of public attention – or occasionally frequent West London pubs where discreet landlords welcome them into quieter back rooms. A royal source told the publication that William is known to "don an occasional disguise" which can include shaving his beard and wearing a hat and glasses. Additionally, the source suggested that the heir to the throne occasionally adopts an "iffy" Welsh accent to prevent strangers from recognising his true identity. The source revealed that the group frequently embark on an annual ski trip, adding: "Like all senior royals, he rarely lets his guard down with anyone. He is wary of getting too close to others. His true inner circle is very select." They further noted: "Their occasionally boisterous behaviour has to be toned down so as not to draw too much attention to themselves but these are sort of 'let your hair down' moments for William who can't act like this anywhere else." Following Aston Villa's historic 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final on May 20, which ended a 30-year wait for silverware, William reportedly celebrated with the players over a few beers. Defender Matty Cash confirmed this, stating: "He was in there having a beer with us. He's just delighted. He's such a big supporter. He's always coming to the training ground, always at Villa Park." He continued: "And he deserves moments like these and hopefully he can let his hair down today." William himself took to social media to write: "Amazing night! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone connected to the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware!" Kensington Palace was approached for comment regarding the claims made in this article.