A lifelong friend of the Prince of Wales has lifted the lid on how the future king disguises himself to enjoy a night out with mates without the prying eyes of royal fans13:39, 01 Jun 2026Prince William looked happier than ever as was snapped last week revelling in Aston Villa’s Europa League triumph alongside his friends in Turkey, as he cheered, sang, and even shed a tear as his beloved team claimed their victory.‌The Prince of Wales has long professed his love for football and his team in particular, with this trip truly highlighting how important it is to the future king to keep a level of normalcy about his life. Joined by a group of lifelong friends, William looked like any other football supporter as he grinned from ear to ear throughout the entire match.‌‌An inside source, believed to be a friend of William’s, told the Daily Mail that the ‘boy’s football trip’ had been organised just weeks ahead of time, with some of the prince’s closest circle of friends joining for the occasion.Those who were with William in Istanbul include long-term pals Thomas van Straubenzee and Edward van Cutsem and his 17-year-old son Jake. William has known 43-year-old Thomas, a senior executive at upmarket estate agency Knight Frank and godfather to Princess Charlotte, since they were small boys studying together at Ludgrove Prep School.Former banker Edward, 52, who was seen joking around with William and even patting him roughly on the head, is one of the King’s godsons and was a page boy at his 1981 wedding to the then Lady Diana. Also at the match was 45-year-old Ben Dawes – known to William as Dawesey.‌The source told the Mail: “Their meetings are infrequent but cherished. The lads are particular fans of barbecues, beer and a lot of wine.”The group of friends try to meet regularly, either at one of their homes or a West London pub. They also are said to holiday abroad together once a year, often at a ski resort.‌When the group does venture out, the inside source said William “dons an occasional disguise”, either growing or shaving off a beard, wearing a hat and glasses and, on occasions, adopting an “iffy” Welsh accent to conceal himself.Discussions of William's present responsibilities or future role as monarch remain firmly off the table during these gatherings, as talk instead centres on family matters, children, careers and sport.‌"Like all senior royals, he rarely lets his guard down with anyone," the source explained. "He is wary of getting too close to others. His true inner circle is very select. They have no axes to grind and know how to behave.“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.”The source added that William is prioritising have as much quality time with his friends as he can, as they said: “He’s a 40-something bloke, well off, with a happy family, but all that currently waits for him is a metaphorical straitjacket and a very heavy crown.”Article continues below