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 wished 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, who was dressed in a grey sport coat, also participated in a shirt-printing activity with 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.
Prince William praised the ‘camaraderie’ of England’s Lionesses today, and even said England’s men’s team could learn something from them.
The royal urged the women’s England team to keep forging kinship as it is ‘one of your greatest assets’ ahead of the Women’s Euros in Switzerland, adding: ‘The men’s team could definitely learn off your camaraderie and your team environment.
‘You’re brilliant together, you create a very unique unit that is rare in lots of other sports. So hold onto that, treasure that, build on it, because it’s one of your greatest assets.’
The Prince told the newcomers on the team: ‘For the seven of you that are starting your first major tournament, the very best of luck.
‘You all seem very relaxed and very together and with it, which is fantastic news. Go and enjoy yourselves.
‘I know there’s a huge expectation on you now from your successors, that is good and that’s also going to be in the back of your minds as you go out there.’
William (centre), patron of the Football Association, appeared cheerful during the visit to St George’s Park
The Prince of Wales in conversation with the England women’s manager Sarina Wiegman during today’s visit
His reference was to the Lionesses’ historic Euros win in July 2022, which he cited as the reason many young girls have now ‘gone into football’.
He added: ‘The fact that…10 years ago women’s football was barely seen in the light it is today and those opportunities have changed because of what you’ve done.
‘So don’t take it lightly…we’re all counting on you guys doing a fantastic job and go and have fun.’
As part of the engagement William joined primary and secondary schoolgirls on the indoor pitch to talk about their experiences in football as part of the Football Association’s drive to increase the number of women who go into the sport.
The prince, as patron of the FA and an avid football fan, spoke with a number of the girls about their inspiration behind getting into the sport.
Asked if his own 10-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte, played football, he said: ‘Yes, she’s not quite as into the football as much as the boys but getting there.
‘It’s again how much they play at school because you’ve got to create that environment where all of them – if their friends don’t play then they’re like ‘Well I’m not going to’…it’s collective and down to the school.’
William regularly takes his eldest, Prince George, to watch major games with him.
Prince William heard from FA personnel about the team’s preparations for the upcoming tournament that kicks off on July 2
Before meeting with friends and families of the Lionesses privately, the Prince was able to make a shirt as part of Aggie Beever-Jones’s kit.
Using a machine to stamp her surname and numbering onto the shirt, which the footballer will use in the upcoming Euros, he joked: ‘I really hope it doesn’t come off in the match.’
Ms Beever-Jones, 21, held up the shirt and quipped: ‘There’s a little crease but I’ll let it slide.’
William also met players Maya Le Tissier and Michelle Agyemang, who will be playing in July’s tournament too.
He told them: ‘It’s an exciting journey ahead…are you nervous? When you’re here it doesn’t feel real does it but once you get to Switzerland…’
While making Ms Beever-Jones’ shirt, William said: ‘It feels like there’s a lot of pressure on this…everyone hold your breath.’
Speaking after the visit, 11-year-old Blossom Appleby said the Prince had been ‘very polite and welcoming’.
The aspiring young footballer, from Birmingham, added that he asked whether the Lionesses 2022 win was an inspiration to her.
She said: ‘I think it did help inspire a lot of younger women and I think it’s just given females in general that boost to aspire to do what they did.’
Ameera Altaf, also 11, added: ‘It was a great experience, I was a bit nervous. He asked us what team he liked and said it was all good that I support Liverpool, he doesn’t mind.’
Meanwhile, Surayya Khan, a 13-year-old student in Holt, revealed that the pair had bonded over their shared favourite player in Aston Villa, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
She said: ‘It was really nice seeing [Prince William] in person and what he did as a kid compared to me. He was talking about what his experience was and what position he played – defender.’
Before William left, he took a group photo with the Lionesses and was given three team shirts to pass on to George, Charlotte and Louis.
