After Sunday night’s match, where the team secured a 2-0 victory against Slovakia, the royal posted on Instagram.
“Emotional rollercoaster! Let’s go @england! Quarter finals here we come! W,” he wrote on the platform.
Prince William, a dedicated football enthusiast and the President of the Football Association, has been steadfastly supporting the Three Lions in recent weeks. Following England captain Harry Kane and his squad’s 1-1 draw with Denmark in Frankfurt on June 20, William visited the team’s dressing room for a motivational chat.
Reflecting on the royal’s visit, Midfielder Adam Wharton said: “He was just trying to keep us all positive. He was saying it’s not the end of the world. We were thinking ‘We’re still top of the group, we didn’t lose, we got a draw, we’ve just got to reflect on the game, see how we can get better and look forward to the next game.’ That’s all you can do in tournament football.”
Prince William a devoted Aston Villa supporter, presented shirts to the England men’s squad before their departure for the tournament, making an unexpected visit to St George’s Park, England’s national football center in Burton upon Trent.
William undertook the trip alone as the Princess of Wales continues her cancer treatment. Their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—were also unable to join him on a school night.
“Guys, I was thinking on the way here, what could I say that could help?” William said upon arrival.
“I was on the school run with the children and I said, ‘what should I say to the England team?’. The best bit of advice I got was to eat twice the amount you would normally eat. I then had visions of you all running around with massive tummies and stitches on the pitch. Maybe take my youngest’s advice with a pinch of salt. “The biggest thing I’ve learned from coming and seeing you guys over the years, every England dressing room I’ve been into – the togetherness,” he continued.
“What Gareth has instilled in you over the years, I really feel you’re a unit, you fight for each other, you play for each other, and you really care about putting that shirt on. I just want you guys to know how much it means to everyone back here that you go out there, give it your all, play for your shirt, play for each other, play for your country because everyone is behind you and really care about what you’re going to do.”
