Shropshire Star

William will be in Germany to cheer England in their Euro 2024 Denmark clash

The Prince of Wales, president of the FA, visited the squad to wish them good luck on Monday.

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The Prince of Wales and Gareth Southgate at England’s national football centre in Burton upon Trent

The Prince of Wales is to travel to Germany to cheer on the England men’s football team as they face Denmark in the Euro 2024 tournament.

William, president of the FA, will watch Gareth Southgate’s side in their second Group C stage match at the Frankfurt Arena on June 20 – the day before his 42nd birthday, Kensington Palace announced.

The heir to the throne, who visited the squad to wish them good luck on Monday before they left for Germany, faced criticism in 2023 for not attending the England women’s team’s World Cup football final against Spain in Sydney.

The Prince of Wales, centre, with Jill Scott, left, and Ollie Watkins, centre right, and Harry Kane, right, at St George’s Park
The Prince of Wales, centre, met Jill Scott, left, Ollie Watkins, centre right, and Harry Kane in a surprise visit to St George’s Park ahead of the start of the tournament (Paul Cooper/Daily Telegraph/PA)

It was the first time the Lionesses had reached the final of a World Cup, and the first time an England football team had competed in a World Cup final since the men’s side beat West Germany in 1966.

William presented shirts to the England men’s squad at the start of the week when he made a surprise visit to St George’s Park, England’s national football centre in Burton upon Trent.

He also shared his youngest son Prince Louis’ advice, who suggested the players “eat twice the amount” to secure their bid for Euros glory.

The trip will be a solo one for William.

Prince Louis (centre) said the England players should eat double portions during their bid for victory
Prince Louis said the England players should eat double portions during their bid for victory (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Princess of Wales is away from public duties at the moment while she continues her treatment for cancer.

With the fixture taking place on a school night, the Waleses’ children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Louis – are not expected to accompany him.

William, a passionate Aston Villa fan, will not be at England’s first match of the Uefa tournament – against Serbia – in person on Sunday, but he will undoubtedly be glued to the TV, watching the game.

Meanwhile, the King and former England captain David Beckham were heard discussing England’s chances in the championship on Tuesday evening.

Referring to squad’s 1-0 loss to Iceland on Friday in their final warm-up friendly, Charles, attending the King’s Foundation awards, asked: “What was all that at Wembley?”

Beckham replied: “I don’t think we should read much into it.”

Charles said: “It doesn’t really matter does it? It was a warming up sort of thing. You don’t want to expend it all in one go at the beginning.”

Reassuring the King, Beckham said “we’ll be ready, Gareth will be ready” to which Charles gave the former footballer a thumbs up.

England’s Rachel Daly, Lauren Hemp, Mary Earps and Millie Bright after the FIFA Women’s World Cup final match
England’s Rachel Daly, Lauren Hemp, Mary Earps and Millie Bright after the Fifa Women’s World Cup final last year (Isabel Infantes/PA)

William sent personal messages to the Lionesses last summer after their heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in the World Cup final, but stayed at home to watch the match in Norfolk.

Veteran broadcaster Jon Sopel suggested it was “inconceivable” that William and the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would not have travelled to Australia if the men’s team had been playing, while former England goalkeeper Pauline Cope branded it a “shame” the prince was not there in person.

The England men’s team reached the final of Euro 2020 only to lose on penalties to Italy, while they were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

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