Prince William broke his silence following England’s heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, sharing an emotional message of pride and consolation for the team.
Speaking directly to the country’s football fans and the team on Instagram Stories, the Prince of Wales praised the players for their immense efforts during what has been a very dramatic campaign.
“Gutted. England, you gave it your all and we are all so proud of you. Thank you to everyone on and off the field, for an incredible tournament. The fight and belief you showed inspired us all. The most complete England team in a tournament. Keep your head up,” the prince wrote, signing his heartfelt message with a personal ‘W’ to signify that the message came directly from him.
The dramatic semi-final saw Argentina once again find a way to escape defeat and continue their defense of their World Cup title, extending England’s painful 60-year drought.
The Three Lions appeared to be on their way to New Jersey when Anthony Gordon opened the scoring.
However, Lionel Messi once again made the difference, delivering two superb assists in the last 15 minutes of the match.
Messi first volleyed in a long-range strike from Enzo Fernández to equalize, before providing the crucial pass on a Lautaro MartÃnez header that sealed Argentina’s 2-1 victory.
The victory marks another escape for the defending champions, who have already survived close matches against Cape Verde, Switzerland and Egypt at this tournament.
The Prince of Wales has supported the national team throughout the tournament, closely monitoring the matches from his Windsor estate.
In the early hours of Monday morning, William stayed awake at his family home, Forest Lodge, to watch England’s memorable and grueling victory over Mexico, where a 10-man England team anxiously clung to their lead in the intense atmosphere of the Azteca Stadium.
As patron of the Football Association and the royal family’s most ardent football supporter, William’s ties to the team run deep.
He remained in direct contact with players and staff throughout the summer, with several members of the England squad holding his personal telephone number.
If England had managed to maintain their lead and progress, Prince William was due to fly to New Jersey to represent the FA and the Royal Family in the World Cup final on July 19.
