Prince William has now "substituted Prince George for Prince Harry" as the Royals rejoined a festive tradition they had neglected for years, a source has claimed.

William and his football-mad eldest son turned many heads at a pre-Christmas fixture, captivating onlookers with their first-ever collective appearance in the sport.

They participated in the customary friendly match between the employees of the Sandringham estate and local village residents, while Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were seen supporting from the sidelines.

A Royal insider confided to the Sun: "It was interesting to see that Harry has now been substituted for Prince George".

According to the source, William nearly scored a goal while Prince George enthusiastically displayed his prowess on the pitch — a sterling example of "healthy father-and-son bonding time" with George appearing to fill Uncle Harry's boots in the family tradition.

The insider further observed: "There were other children playing and it was all good fun and light-hearted. It is nice that they have returned to take part in the traditional game as they haven't done so for years. But it was interesting to see that Harry has now been substituted for Prince George."

The Royal couple have previously been seen cheering on Aston Villa at Villa Park and celebrating England's triumphant Euro 2024 final victory over Spain. The Princess of Wales also turned heads, dazzling in her chic outfit while rooting for her family.

In a candid revelation on That Peter Crouch Podcast in 2020, Prince William shared his approach to his son George's football allegiance, saying: "I'm trying not to persuade him to be a Villa fan, I'm letting him choose his own way. It's about finding what fits for him."

But it's not just football that has captured young George's interest; he's taken to the skies as well. At the tender age of 11, the prince had his inaugural flying lesson in Windsor.

Under the watchful eyes of his parents, he adeptly piloted an aircraft at White Waltham Airfield, not far from their Adelaide Cottage residence. This exhilarating flight marked a high-flying end to his summer holiday.