‘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’ he added.
The King finished his lengthy tribute with an acknowledgement of the Lionesses’ impact on the nation: ‘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.’
The weekend will see England’s national women’s team battle for victory in the tournament’s final round and – though the rivals are not yet determined – Kensington Palace has confirmed that Prince William will travel to Switzerland to cheer the players on. The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Football Association, will be at the final in Basel, where the lionesses will play the winners of this evening’s semi-final between Germany and Spain.
Keen football fans, the Wales family will have likely kept up with the team’s progress. William took to socials to share his own tribute, penning, ‘Brilliant performance @Lionesses! One game from glory!’ Earlier in the tournament, the heir travelled to Switzerland to watch the England women’s team in their group match against the Netherlands, which they won 4-0.
Prince William, patron of the Football Association, is a keen supporter of the England National team
James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Before they headed off for the championships, he visited the team at their St George’s Park training ground, where he shared words of encouragement: ‘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.’