A sea of red and white filled central London on Tuesday as 65,000 jubilant fans lined the Mall to welcome home the victorious Lionesses after their Euro 2025 triumph. The England squad, returning from Switzerland after securing their second successive European Championship, rode an open-top bus through cheering crowds before taking to a stage at the Queen Victoria Memorial.
Captain Leah Williamson addressed the crowd, saying, 'I've been crying all the way down the Mall. This is unbelievable.' She acknowledged the team's hard-fought journey, including last-minute equalisers and penalty shootouts, adding, 'Everything we do, we do it for you, for the country, for young girls. This story is not done yet.'
Among the fans was 58-year-old Joanne Rumsby, who said she had seen them win at Wembley three years ago. 'To see them win again was everything. It was elation, it was pride – it was just wonderful.' Others, like 55-year-old Vivienne Avery, were inspired to take up football after the 2022 victory, reflecting the tournament's impact on participation.
Manager Sarina Wiegman danced on stage with singer Burna Boy and praised the team's bonding. 'We kept having hope. Everybody was ready to support each other,' she said. The parade ended with the squad requesting more songs as they celebrated their historic back-to-back European title.
