WILLIAM GIVES THE ENGLAND SQUAD A ROYAL SEND-OFF

Prince William passes on some advice to the team from son Prince Louis ahead of the Euros

- REBECCA RUSSELL

As an ardent football fan, the Prince of Wales never misses the opportunity to show his support for the game whether it’s wishing the England team well ahead of a big tournament or by cheering on his beloved Aston Villa from the stands. Last week Prince William visited St George’s Park in Staffordshire to meet the 26 England players, as well as manager Gareth Southgate, ahead of the UEFA European Football Championship.

William, who is president of the Football Association (FA), presented shirts to the team before their first group match against Serbia and delivered a speech, which included some advice from his youngest child, six-year-old Prince Louis.

His speech began with an insight into what he and his children talk about, as he revealed, “I was on the school run this morning with the children and I said, ‘What shall I say to the England team today?’ The best bit of advice I got to ask you was to eat twice the amount you would normally eat.”

A daunting task for some of the country’s fittest sportsmen, and one that saw the prince grin from ear to ear.

“I then had visions of all of you running around with massive great tummies and loads of stitches on the pitch,” he joked. “So I think maybe take my youngest’s advice with a pinch of salt!”