Featured Image Credit: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images/Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Topics: Prince William, Royal Family, UK News, Sport
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Prince William, Royal Family, UK News, Sport
With the Women's Euro 2025 tournament officially in full swing, sport fans are reminded of a super strange statement the Prince of Wales made at the male equivalent last year.
A diehard football fan, Prince William took his eldest, Prince George, along to the men's 2024 tournament, with the father-son duo attending the final game between England and Spain in Berlin, Germany's Olympiastadion.
Snaps of the pair went viral, showing them grabbing ahold of one another and cheering when their home side's Cole Palmer scored in the 74th minute, equalising Spain's initial goal, scored by Nico Williams just before half-time.
Discussing their behaviour, body language expert Darren Stanton told press at the time: "We saw William in a much more relaxed manner than ever before. During many of his engagements as the Prince of Wales, William shows feelings of happiness when necessary but still displays a professional manner.
Advert
"Normally, William would show a few smiles and walk with a stride in his step to show genuine contentment - but this time, he went a step further.
"It was great to see a very expressive side to the Prince. Chanting with the crowd, punching the air with his fist and displaying huge grins, were all examples of William expressing raw emotion."
During the more tense moments of the game, however, William, 43, and George, 11, could be seen leaning forward in their seats, biting their nails and clasping their hands of their cheeks.
And sadly, following a second goal from Mikel Oyarzabal in the 87th minute, England were defeated 2-1. Taking to X afterwards, the father-of-three wrote: "This time it just wasn’t meant to be. We’re all still so proud of you. Onwards @England. W”
Prior to Spain's final goal, however, the Prince - who is also President of the FA alongside his royal responsibilities - was seen uttering a perculiar remark under his breath - something lip reader Nicola Hinkling later claimed she'd uncovered.
The comment was reportedly made after William was interrupted by someone who approached him during the game.
"William wasn't having any of it and said it 'was already requested'," Hickling told the Mirror. "When he sat down, he muttered under his breath the word 'sausage'."
Tyla reached out to Kensington Palace for comment at the time.
A year on, however, and footie fans are putting the past behind them ahead of this year's women's tournament.
The UEFA Women's EUROS kicked off yesterday (2 July) with eight venues hosting matches across Switzerland until the 27th.
16 teams will play one another in groups of four in the coming weeks, with the top two in each progressing to knockouts. The final pair will play one another in Basel at 18:00 on the last day of the tournament.
England's first game will face place against France on Saturday.