Prince William and Princess Kate - British royals on a sporting mission
Prince William (42) was fiercely cheering on the tribune at the Düsseldorf Stadium during the tense quarter-final match England-Switzerland on Saturday evening. He put his hands before his face, cheered on the Three Lions, and was thrilled as the English national team finally won in the penalty shootout.
"Nail-biting until the end"
Accompanied by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, deputy UEFA General Secretary Giorgio Marchetti, and the former Portuguese national player Luis Figo, the avowed football fan sat in the crowd. In contrast to the many other England fans dressed in white jerseys, the Royal wore a formal navy blue suit and tie with a football print. After the victory, he posted a short statement on Instagram: "Nail-biting until the end. Well done, England! The semifinal is here! We believe in it. W."
The British prince congratulated the team personally. Photos show him embracing Bukayo Saka (22). The winger had scored the equalizer in the 80th minute. The Arsenal player also scored in the tense penalty shootout, securing England's entry into the semifinal. Saka had been the target of racist insults on the internet after missing a penalty in the European Championship 2020 final against Italy.
Will he meet the Dutch king in the semifinal?
Prince William had already followed England's match against Denmark in the Frankfurt EM-Arena during the group stage. The high-stakes game, which ended in a 1:1 draw, also saw the attendance of the Danish King Frederik X. (56). England now faces the Netherlands in Dortmund on July 10 (9:00 PM) in the semifinal to determine the finalist. It is possible that there will be another royal encounter: According to media reports, Prince William is rumored to be planning another stadium visit. King Willem-Alexander (57) has not yet attended any EM game of the Dutch team, but perhaps he will cheer them on in the semifinal?
Princess Kate posted for Andy Murray
While William was in the EURO fever in the evening, his wife, who is suffering from cancer, spoke out in the social media. Princess Kate (42) paid tribute to the British tennis player Andy Murray (37) in a statement: "An incredible Wimbledon career comes to an end", Kate, patron of the renowned tennis tournament, wrote on X (formerly Twitter). She added: "You should be very proud of yourself". Murray is a two-time Wimbledon champion and plans to retire from professional tennis after the Olympics in Paris.
- The crown prince and princess of England, Prince William and Princess Kate, are known for their passionate support of English football.
- During the UEFA European Championship, Prince William was seen cheering on the English national team at the Düsseldorf Stadium, accompanied by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and former Portuguese player Luis Figo.
- Princess Kate, who is currently battling cancer, took to social media to pay tribute to British tennis player Andy Murray, who announced his retirement from professional tennis after the Olympics.
- Andy Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, received words of encouragement from Princess Kate, who serves as the patron of the renowned tennis tournament.
- On Instagram, Prince William also congratulated the English football team on their victory in the quarter-final match against Switzerland, calling it a "nail-biting until the end" experience.
- The victory against Switzerland secured England's entry into the semifinal of the UEFA European Championship, where they will face the Netherlands.
- Bukayo Saka, the winger who scored the equalizer and secured England's win in the penalty shootout, was personally congratulated by Prince William and thanked for his exceptional performance.
