Tens of thousands of jubilant England supporters lined the Mall in central London on Tuesday to welcome home the victorious Lionesses following their Euro 2025 triumph. An estimated 65,000 fans, many draped in red and white, cheered and waved as the team rode an open-top bus before taking to a stage in front of the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace.
Captain Leah Williamson addressed the crowd, describing the scenes as 'unbelievable' and thanking the nation for their support. 'Everything we do, obviously we do it for the team, but we do it for you, we do it for the country, we do it for young girls,' she said. 'Thank you so much for being with us. Stay with us. This story is not done yet.'
The parade marked the team's second successive European Championship victory, having won the tournament in 2022. Manager Sarina Wiegman noted the resilience of her squad, stating: 'We kept having hope. It starts with talent, the bonding in this team made the absolute difference. Everybody was ready to support each other.'
Among the fans were many inspired by the team's success. Vivienne Avery, 55, said she took up football after the 2022 victory, while 58-year-old Joanne Rumsby called it 'elation, it was pride – it was just wonderful.' The influence of the team is evident in the growth of the women's game: 1,500 new teams were registered in England following the 2022 Euros, with participation among girls and women increasing by more than 50%.
The celebration included a slightly unhinged yet joyful performance on stage, with Chloe Kelly exclaiming 'It's so f***ing special!' and the squad singing along with Burna Boy. Wiegman smiled when asked about fans chanting her name to the tune of 'Tequila', calling the English 'very innovative and funny'.
