Kensington Palace has released a new message from the Prince of Wales as England prepares to face Croatia in their first World Cup group match this evening. The Prince, a dedicated football enthusiast and Patron of the Football Association (FA), recently made a private visit to St George's Park to personally encourage the team before they departed for the United States.
Taking to social media, Prince William wrote: "Good luck to England ahead of their first World Cup group match tonight! Here’s to a great tournament ahead. W." The message was accompanied by muscle and rocket emojis and signed with his initial.
The Prince's connection to football is well-known; he most recently watched his beloved Aston Villa secure a Europa League victory in May.
During his visit to St George's Park on May 11, Prince William spoke with staff and England manager Thomas Tuchel. He acknowledged the often-unseen contributions of the support team, saying: "You don't get as much acknowledgement or credit as you deserve." He met with coaches, analysts, medical staff, nutritionists, and logistics personnel, emphasizing that their work is fundamental to the players' success.
"Not everyone gets to see all the hard work you put in," the Prince told them. "The success of the players is from the foundations you build, so thank you." He added: "All of the things are coming in a line now: the Lionesses' successes they've had, two men's Euros finals, it feels like we are closing in on that ambition."
William concluded: "Go with my blessings and my best wishes to all of you. Enjoy it, look after each other and give your best. I'm sure we will do well, so good luck."
Manager Thomas Tuchel remarked to the Prince: "It gets bigger and bigger – the team behind the team – so many specialists, from nutritionists to analysts and set pieces."
It remains unclear whether Prince William will travel to the United States, Canada, or Mexico during the tournament to support the team in person.
