Prince of Wales tells England football team ‘the country is behind you’
The Prince of Wales has told the England football team “the country is behind you” during a surprise visit to their training base before the World Cup.
England are Wales’ opponent in Group B of the tournament and the sides will play each other on 29 November.
The Prince of Wales visited the England squad at St George’s Park ahead of the team’s trip to the World Cup in Qatar.
William joined a private team meeting and presented the players with their jersey numbers on Monday evening.
Video footage from the event showed William posing for photos with the players.
He told the squad: “I’m really here to point out that the rest of the country is behind you.
“We are all rooting for you, enjoy it.”
The #ThreeLions heading to @FIFAWorldCup were given a special send-off by being presented with their tournament squad numbers by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. pic.twitter.com/SaEubkVkd9
— England (@England) November 15, 2022
‘Disappointment’
Last week the Prince of Wales had confessed that it was hard being an England fan because his hopes were continually dashed.
Prince William said that he found the disappointment of being an England fan hard to handle as the euphoria came “crashing down” following the inevitable defeat.
But he described his fellow England supporters as a “family within a family”.
William was taking part in a special episode of Games of Fives, an online discussion show about fan culture, alongside England captain Harry Kane and midfielder Declan Rice.
Speaking of being an England fan, the Prince of Wales said: “You learn by playing a number of times, and many other things in life, that disappointment is part of life.
“How you handle it is crucial. Handling some of those really disappointing England results in the past, that was hard. The same euphoria that we had good comes crashing down and whittles away.
“Suddenly normal life just gets back on again and it’s like, where did that all go? Was that real? How do I get that feeling back? Football has that ability to just put it all on a plate for you and then suddenly just take it all away and go until next time….”
The Prince of Wales said that supporting England had been part of his formative experiences.
“Quite a strong memory of early days was donning an England shirt and going down the pub with my mates and watching England play in big tournaments,” he said.
“When Wayne Rooney appeared on scene, that was a big moment for me growing up.
“There was something very powerful, really interesting about how Wayne played and the steel he brought to the England team.”
‘Busy’
Prince William has previously confirmed that he was too busy to go to Qatar to support either Wales or England at the World Cup.
Despite being the Prince of Wales and president of the English FA his household said that his diary was too full to attend.
However, they said that his office may look at making arrangements if England manager Gareth Southgate’s team reach the final.
His presence could have drawn criticism over Qatar’s human rights record and criminalisation of LGBTQ+ relationships. His absence will also avoid raising the awkward issue of whether he is there to support Wales or England, who are playing each other on 29 November in Group B.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said the prince had no plans to attend the World Cup, which begins on November 20, adding “we hadn’t planned to go due to the busy winter schedule”.
He and the Princess of Wales do have a number of engagements throughout the World Cup, including a flight to Boston, USA to hand out the Earthshot Prize on December 2.
He supported the England women’s team during their victorious run in the Euro 2022 tournament and presented the players with their winning medals after they beat Germany in the final at Wembley.
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Again this site uses the fake Prince of Wales title, why normalise this?
Perhaps they could keep it but prefix it with “the self-proclaimed”….
… or ‘so-called’.
I agree, we have to ignore the guy – it’s obvious he means nothing to Cymru.
Can’t they use a separate title when he is supporting England, like Prince William?
Why just then? Our nation is not HIS adornment. Get the title off him and keep it off him. I may then retire my own.
Just ignore him and his little pretend title. Let’s all start awarding titles to each other and dressing up in silly uniforms with fake military and other meaningless stupid medals. They are all luvvies.
Agreed. I’ve made a start. (See screen name). What title d’you fancy? Imperator of Buckingham? Warlord of Northampton? General of the Felix Legions of the North of England?
Well as the Prince of England and Moscow (just as valid as Willy Windsock’s invented and unearned title) I would like the Cymru team to know that the whole nation is behind you and that when you play England, the whole world will be behind you. The nation is already proud of you. You earned your place and inspired our people. Now go take your place in the history books. And if you send a pointed message to the contextually oblivious German Prince who undeservedly and carelessly wears our nation as a bauble, then that would be hilarious.
Beautifully put
It’s a terrible look but as this is one of those ‘eyes of the world are on us’ moments, hopefully many people will be asking why the so called Prince of WALES is visiting and supporting the ENGLAND team and totally ignoring the country he appears to be the Prince of. It’s a question which requires an answer and that answer must be conveyed to the world. It’s a long standing and continuing insult so now you all know. This is the contempt we are treated with.
Because a lot of idiots would like to think Wales as a part of little ingerlund it would help if some Welsh leaders would stop brown nosing to westmonster and fight for the independence movement.
Precisely.
Don’t you mean the Prince Of England – he doesn’t really have any connection to Wales so why call him the Prince Of Wales ?
Totally agree,what a fake,calls himself Prince of Wales,then supports England football team,when’s he going to see the welsh lads,probably never,I’ve got more right to be Prince,after all my family,on my father’s side,goes back to the 9th century in west wales,wills hand the crown over.
Disgusting but why am I not surprised?
Nid fy Nhywysog. He is just some inbred cuckoo stealing the name which means less than nothing.
As inspirational speeches go, he’s no Michael Sheen is he?
Of course it’s up to him who he supports but this is yet another reason to get rid of the title Prince of Wales.
Agreed. No gripes with him as a person. Don’t know him. Don’t want to. But he’s English and wants to support England. Which is fair enough.
So why saddle him – and us – with a “prince” role neither party wants?
What happened to the not our Prince petition.
Just reinforces the fact, the royal family is an English royal family foisted on us with a sham ‘prince of Wales’ title. Enough of this charade.
I’m actually glad this english prince is finally showing his true colours – it’ll help our call for independence immensely. Tell your children, the future of our nation, this man ‘does not represent you, never has done and never will do’
Your on the same page as me Steve, let the tinned eared clot carry on disrespecting Cymru #IndyWales and getting rid of the Monarchy is the real goal.
Jesus its like a Walt Disney Fairy tale Prince Princess King and Queen and its imposed on us Englis German or whatever but they are not Welsh our Princes where killed and Murdered by them over the Border EONS AGO
Maybe it’s Willie’s way of telling his dad to shove his title. After all he’s got stacks of others and they cause him less grief. Boy may have a modicum of sense after all. Will we ever get to know how he feels about anything?
Just his handlers trying to give him the common touch.
No doubt he prefers polo.
Take the title off this pamperd Prince and dont let him near the Welsh tesm.
Just let him be Prince of England he’s not bothered about cymru one iota
Can we please have our last so-called ‘Prince of Wales’ back? At least he didn’t get too involved in sport.
We all I am sure wish William and his family the country of England all they deserve in the World 🌍 Cup….
What sort of welcome will he receive if he ever comes to Wales. i wonder if he would be egged by young football supporters??