Prince William will be joined by two key royals as he supports Lionesses on major trip
Prince William is set to be joined by two other key royals when he watches the Lionesses take on Spain in the Women's Euros final on Sunday, it has been revealed.
England's Lionesses soared into final as Chloe Kelly scored in the 119th minute as their nail-biting match against Italy went into extra time during Tuesday's semi-final. William, patron of the Football Association, announced he would be travelling to Basel for the finale earlier this week, sharing that he is excited to cheer on the Lionesses in their bid for glory. And now it has been revealed, that the Spanish team will also have some royal support, with Spanish heir to the throne Princess Leonor is also planning to be at the match.
The Spanish royal household has confirmed to local media that Leonor will be joined by her younger sister, Infanta Sofia, 18, in a rare joint appearance for their daughters of Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain - making a royal reunion likely. Sofia joined her mum Letizia in Australia in 2023 when the Spanish team won the World Cup, beating England in the final
Earlier in the current tournament, William, who is an avid football fan, travelled to Switzerland to watch the England women's team in their group match against the Netherlands, which they won 4-0. Before the team headed off for the championships, he visited the team at their St George's Park training ground, where he told them: "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."
William previously presented the England women's team with the trophy when they won the 2022 Women's Euros after beating Germany at Wembley.
However, he came in for heavy criticism when in 2023, he did not travel to Australia to support the team when they reached the World Cup final against Spain the following year, which they ultimately lost.
William's announcement that he will journey to Switzerland for the final match comes after King Charles also issued a statement to send his congratulations to the Lionesses after reaching the final.
In a statement posted on social media, the King said: 'My wife and I join all our family in wishing you, the proud Lionesses, our warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the Uefa Euro tournament.
'Your journey to this stage has been nothing short of remarkable, showcasing the skill, determination (and test of nerve!) for which your team is so rightly celebrated. Knowing the Lionesses' fighting spirit, I suspect we are in for another thrilling encounter on Sunday.
'Your achievements continue to inspire countless girls and women across the nation, proving once again that with dedication and teamwork, anything is possible. Good luck, England. May you roar to victory once more. Charles R."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Former BBC presenter reveals why he stepped back from his role
Gary Lineker revealed his BBC departure was a case of "quit or be quitted" rather than entirely his own choice, following a controversial social media post. The post, which featured a rat image, was about Zionism, and Lineker later apologised, stating he stands against all forms of racism. As a result, Lineker will no longer present BBC coverage of the 2026 World Cup or the FA Cup next season. He maintained his impartiality regarding the war in Gaza, stating he has "no skin in the game" and is "anti the killing of children". Lineker has since toned down his social media use, coming off X (formerly Twitter) due to its "horrible" and "nasty" nature.
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Burna Boy joins in Lionesses victory parade as he sings with Sarina Wiegman
Sarina Wiegman, England 's coach, danced with Nigerian artist Burna Boy during the Lionesses ' homecoming victory tour in London on Tuesday. The event occurred outside Buckingham Palace, where Wiegman, who led the team to two consecutive European championship wins, was surprised by Burna Boy 's appearance. Burna Boy performed his 2022 hit 'For My Hand', with Ms Wiegman seen singing along and hugging the artist. Alex Scott, former England star and host of the celebration, revealed that Burna Boy is Ms Wiegman's 'favourite artist'. Watch the video in full above.
BreakingNews.ie
31 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
England lift Euros trophy in front of thousands at Buckingham Palace
The England Women's football team have lifted their European Championships trophy outside Buckingham Palace as thousands joined in the celebrations of their dramatic victory. The Lionesses were cheered by thousands of fans along The Mall on Tuesday after the team defended their Euros title with a penalty shootout win over Spain in the final in Basel, Switzerland. Advertisement Wearing white Nike T-shirts and England scarves, the team took photos with their phones as the buses travelled down the street, led by the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth and flanked on either side by cheering fans waving flags. Buses carrying England players and staff make their way down The Mall (Adam Davy/PA) Manager Sarina Wiegman danced alongside afrobeat star Burna Boy on stage while there was also a performance of Proud by Heather Small, before captain Leah Williamson lifted the trophy in the air to huge cheers. The squad then posed for photos with the gathered fans on the Mall amid a large red fireworks display, before singing along to Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline as it played over the speakers. Speaking on stage at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the palace to host Alex Scott, a tearful Williamson said: 'I've been crying all the way down The Mall. Advertisement All for this moment! ❤️ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 29, 2025 'This is unbelievable, probably one of the best things we've ever, ever been a part of, so thank you for coming out.' Williamson described the team as 'special, special people', adding: 'We love each other, we've got each other's back on and off the pitch. 'We had tough moments, nasty things to deal with, and still we rise.' Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning penalty in the Euros final, swore as she celebrated on stage. Advertisement Fans gathered around the stage on The Mall as celebrations were in full swing (Yui Mok/PA) The forward told host Alex Scott: '(It is) so good to stand side by side with every single one of these girls throughout the whole tournament, and the staff that you don't see behind the scenes. It's incredible. 'Thank you to everyone that got out to support us, whether that's in Switzerland or here today. It's so f****** special.' Scott immediately apologised to the crowd for the language. Alessia Russo, who scored England's equaliser with a header against Spain in the final, described the celebrations on The Mall as 'a bit surreal'. Advertisement England players gather on the steps of the Victoria Memorial during a Homecoming Victory Parade (Yui Mok/PA) Asked by BBC News how she was feeling whilst on the open-top bus, she said: 'Tired, but on cloud nine. I mean, this is just unreal. 'We didn't really know what to expect coming into it today, but everyone was so excited on the bus, and it feels so nice to come back to England and celebrate with our fans.' Asked to describe the scenes in central London, Russo added: 'It's just a bit surreal. It's crazy to see this many people come out in the home of England at London, heading up to Buckingham Palace – it's just crazy. 'I'd never have dreamed of anything like it.' Advertisement Celebrations on home soil began on Monday when the team landed at Southend Airport in Essex, where hundreds of fans waited to catch a glimpse of Sarina Wiegman's side and the trophy. England attended a reception at Downing Street hosted by UK deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. A large fireworks display followed the trophy lift outside the palace (Ben Whitley/PA) UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer offered 'a huge, huge congratulations to you and to the whole team' as he spoke with Wiegman and some of the team via a video call from the garden of No 10. Britain's King Charles also congratulated the European champions on Monday, saying in a statement posted on X: 'You have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms. 'Well done, Lionesses.' Royal celebrations could continue for the team as plans for a reception at either Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle in the autumn are being explored by royal aides, it is understood.
