LONDON – Prince William has issued a special message to the Welsh women’s football team as they prepare for their first-ever European Championship campaign, wishing them luck in both English and Welsh ahead of Saturday’s opening match against the Netherlands.
The Prince of Wales, who serves as patron of the English Football Association, sent his well-wishes just days after visiting England’s Lionesses at St. George’s Park. His message acknowledged the historic nature of Wales’ achievement in qualifying for their first major tournament.
“Best of luck to Wales as they make their Women’s Euros debut. A proud and historical moment for Welsh football,” William’s message began. The Prince added “Pob lwc,” the Welsh phrase for good luck, and signed off with his customary “W.”
The message was also delivered fully in Welsh, reading: “Pob lwc i Gymru wrth iddyn nhw chwarae am y tro cyntaf ym Mhencampwriaeth Ewros y Merched. Mae hi’n foment falch a hanesyddol i bêl-droed Cymru. W.”
Wales will make their tournament debut on Saturday at 6pm local time against the Netherlands at the Allmend Stadion in Lucerne, Switzerland. The match marks the culmination of decades of effort by Welsh women’s football, with the team having narrowly missed qualification for previous major tournaments.
The Welsh squad, coached by Canadian Rhian Wilkinson, features nine openly LGBTQ+ players, making them the team with the highest representation at the tournament. The squad includes veteran players like record scorer Jessica Fishlock, who has 47 goals in 162 appearances for her country.
Prince William’s message comes as Wales prepare to face a daunting Group D that includes his own nation England, reigning world champions France, and the Netherlands. The group has been dubbed the tournament’s “group of death,” with all four teams ranked among Europe’s elite.
The Prince’s support for Wales adds an interesting dimension given that England and Wales will meet on July 13 in St. Gallen. As patron of the English FA, William had visited the Lionesses on Monday at their St. George’s Park training base, where he helped print squad numbers on shirts and delivered a motivational speech.
During that visit, William praised England’s team unity, telling them: “I have been saying to a few of you, the men’s team can definitely learn off your camaraderie and your team environment. You are brilliant together. You create a very unique unit… so hold on to that, treasure that, build on it because it’s one of your greatest assets.”
The Prince emphasized the transformative impact the Lionesses have had on women’s football, noting a 56% increase in female youth participation since 2020. The fact is that 10 years ago, women’s football was barely seen in the light it is today, and those opportunities have changed because of what you’ve done,” he told the England squad.
Wales’ qualification for Euro 2025 represents a watershed moment for Welsh football. The team secured their place with a 2-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on December 2, 2024, ending years of heartbreak and near-misses.
Jack Sargeant, Wales’ Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, described the achievement in a written statement: “This will be a historic moment as our women participate in their first major tournament, one of sixteen top European teams. Whatever happens in July, this team, our Dreigiau, have already made us very proud.”
The Welsh government has announced plans to maximize the opportunity presented by the tournament, including a marketing campaign focused on international markets and initiatives to promote Wales globally. Ministers will attend each of Wales’ group matches to support business, cultural and sporting initiatives.
The tournament, running from July 2-27 across eight Swiss cities, features 16 teams competing for the European crown. England enter as defending champions after their triumph at Euro 2022, while Spain are considered favorites following their 2023 World Cup victory.
Wales’ group stage fixtures include matches against the Netherlands (July 5), France (July 9), and England (July 13). All matches will be broadcast on FOX Sports in the United States and TSN in Canada, with the final scheduled for July 27 at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.
The Prince of Wales has indicated he plans to travel to Switzerland to support England during the tournament, particularly for their match against the Netherlands. His children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – received personalized England shirts during his visit to St. George’s Park.
For Wales, the tournament represents not just a sporting achievement but a platform to showcase Welsh culture and values on the international stage. The team’s motto for the campaign emphasizes their dragon emblem – “Dreigiau” – as they prepare to take on Europe’s best.
As former Wales international Helen Ward, who retired without reaching a major tournament, said earlier this year: “It breaks my heart that I didn’t make it to a major tournament with this team… But I know they will make it soon and they will shine on the biggest stage of all and I can’t wait to be their best cheerleader when that happens.”
That moment has now arrived, with Prince William’s message adding royal recognition to what promises to be a historic summer for Welsh football.
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Image credit:
Prince of Wales in Normandy, 2024. Photo by Ministry of Defence, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0.
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