Prince William Has Hilarious Reaction to 'Cheesy' Sign with a Royal Twist in the Crowd at Soccer Game

Prince William couldn't help but laugh at a very cheesy joke.

On July 6, the Prince of Wales, 42, stepped out in Germany to watch England face Switzerland in the UEFA EURO quarterfinals match, where he reportedly had an animated reaction to a fan sign in the stands before the game began. 

According to Hello! magazine, Prince William and an equerry shared a laugh when they spotted a Team Switzerland supporter holding a poster that read "God Save the Cheese." The cheeky phrase was a play on the British national anthem tracing back to 1745, known as "God Save the Queen" or "God Save the King," depending on who holds the throne. Meanwhile, the Swiss are known for a rich tradition of cheese-making.

Prince William recently shared a glimpse at his sense of humor when he shared his daughter Princess Charlotte’s "favorite joke at the moment" — a classic knock-knock joke about an "interrupting cow" — during an April visit to St. Michael’s Church of England High School.

At the soccer match, the Prince of Wales closely followed the action from the stands at Dusseldorf Arena, where the teams tied 1-1. The royal touched his temples and dramatically leaped from his seat during the close game, as did his equerry Lt. Commander Rob Dixon, who sat behind him. A viral video shared to TikTok showed Prince William hopping up and punching the air, and England ultimately won the penalty shootout 5-3, advancing them to the semifinal round.

"Nail biting to the very end. Well done, @England! Semi-finals here we come! We believe. W," Prince William wrote on X after the game wrapped. The royal signed with his first initial to signal that the message came directly from him, as he's known to do for soccer-related news, and also took time to personally congratulate the England soccer squad.

Prince William is the president of the Football Association, soccer's governing body in England, and a loyal follower of the sport. The heir to the throne has attended several games this spring and occasionally brought along his son Prince George, 10, once revealing that his eldest was "loving" the Aston Villa team, which he's long rooted for. 

Soccer has been a source of joy for William as both his wife, Kate Middleton, and his father, King Charles, are undergoing cancer treatment.

"He has been hugely buoyed by the results of Aston Villa," a source previously told PEOPLE. "You shouldn’t overlook the importance of soccer in these moments."

Prince William has continued to undertake royal work as Princess Kate, 42, largely remains out of the spotlight as she continues treatment. The Princess of Wales made her first public appearance with the royal family this year at Trooping the Colour on June 15.

Palace aides emphasized that her appearance at King Charles' birthday parade did not indicate a full return to royal duties. No decisions have been made about what future engagements she might make in the coming weeks, and any outings will be based on when Princess Kate feels able and with the support of her medical team. 

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In a personal message released on June 14, Princess Kate expressed her determination to take each day as it comes.

"I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet," the Princess of Wales said. "I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body and allowing myself to take this much-needed time to heal."

It remains to be seen whether Princess Kate will attend Wimbledon before it wraps on July 14. The Princess of Wales is a dedicated tennis player and traditionally distributes trophies at the championship in her role as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.