The Prince of Wales today met the Lionesses to wish them luck for the forthcoming UEFA Women’s Euros that kicks off on July 2 during a special visit to England’s national football centre.
During his visit to St George’s Park, William, 43, met with head coach Sarina Wiegman as well as senior personnel at the Football Association to find out how the team is preparing for the tournament.
A long-term Aston Villa supporter, William is patron of the FA after stepping down as President last July.
The future King had held the position for nearly two decades before he announced his decision to scale back his role to focus more on his responsibilities as the Duke of Cornwall.
After he arrived at the training centre in Staffordshire, William watched a Made for This Game activity with junior girl’s football teams from primary and secondary schools where teams were formed after the Lionesses made history at the 2022 Euros.
The Made For this Game campaign was designed to inspire young girls to play football after what has been described as ‘English women’s football‘s greatest day’.
Joining Prince William for today’s session were former Lionesses Rachel Brown-Finnis and Kerry Davis as the trip met young players, coaches, and referees part of this grassroots movement to help girls reclaim the pitch.
Before he left, William met players alongside their friends and families to hear more about their training, including speaking to players who will be competing in the tournament for the first time.
The Prince of Wales today wishes the Lionesses luck for the forthcoming UEFA Women’s Euros that kicks off on July 2 during a special visit to England’s national football centre
William (centre) is patron of the Football Association
William, who was dressed in a grey sport coat, also participated in a shirt-printing activity wioth staff and players in the changing rooms before joining a shirt participation of the players who are part of the England team for this year’s Euros.
Sporting the salt-and-pepper beard that has sent royal fans into a tizzy, William picked a light blue shirt and navy trousers for today’s engagement.
His visit to the training centre comes after Sabrina unveiled her 23-player squad that will be looking to defend their title when the competition begins on Wednesday.
The team is very different from the one that lifted the Euros back in 2022, in turn making history, MailOnline’s Harry Bamforth noted.
There will be tournament debuts for seven players as Michelle Agyemang, Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier, and Grace Clinton, Manchester City’s Khiara Keating and Jess Park, Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones, and Orlando Pride’s Anna Moorhouse have all been selected.
Prince William’s visit to St George’s Park comes after he knighted former England football manager Gareth Southgate at Windsor Castle last week.
As England boss, Southgate led the Three Lions to the finals of Euro 2020 and 2024 as well as the semi-final of the World Cup in 2018.
The Prince of Wales in conversation with the England women’s manager Sarina Wiegman
Prince William heard from FA personnel about the team’s preparations for the upcoming tournament that kicks off on July 2
After Thursday’s investiture ceremony, Southgate becomes the fourth England manager to be knighted, after Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson.
Following the 2-1 final defeat to Spain at Euro 2024, Southgate stepped down as England manager after eight years in charge.
Earlier this month, William issued a call for urgent action against climate change as the heir to the throne highlighted the role that Indigenous People play in protecting nature.
‘Their stewardship and protection are among the most effective forces for conservation,’ he told a roundtable event being held at St James’s Palace as part of London Climate Action Week.
‘If we are serious about achieving climate and biodiversity goals, Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be central to the effort as partners, leaders, and co-creators of solutions.’
Amongst those in the audience were Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples and British energy minister Ed Miliband, who on Wednesday reiterated Britain’s commitment to decarbonising the economy and stimulating green business growth.
William’s remarks on Thursday follow on from a plea earlier this month to world leaders and businesses to take immediate action to protect the planet’s oceans, saying it was a challenge ‘like none we have faced before’.
On Thursday, the royal, 43, headed the high-level roundtable, called Nature’s Guardians: On the Road to COP30 & Beyond, which was aimed at increasing funding for nature protection projects.
The discussion was hosted by The Royal Foundation, of which the Prince is founder, at the London residence.
