Prince William has broken 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 comfort to the squad.
The Prince of Wales took to Instagram Stories to address the country’s football fans and the team directly, praising the players for their tremendous efforts during a very dramatic campaign.
“Dead. England you gave it your all and we are all so proud of you. Thank you to everyone on and off the pitch for an incredible tournament. The fight and belief you have shown has inspired us all. The most complete England team in a tournament. Keep your heads up,” the prince wrote, signing off his heartfelt message with a personal “W” to signify the post.
The dramatic semi-final saw Argentina once again find a way to escape defeat and continue their World Cup title defence, extending England’s painful 60-year trophy drought.
The Three Lions appeared to be heading to New Jersey when Anthony Gordon opened the scoring.
However, Lionel Messi once again proved to be the difference, providing two superb assists in the final 15 minutes of the match.
Messi first latched on to a long-range strike from Enzo Fernández to equalise, before providing the decisive pass for a Lautaro MartÃnez header that sealed Argentina’s 2-1 comeback win.
The victory marks another escape for the reigning champions, who have already survived close games against Cape Verde, Switzerland and Egypt during this tournament.
The Prince of Wales has been a fixture in support of the national team throughout the tournament, following the games closely from his Windsor estate.
In the early hours of Monday morning, William stayed up at his family home, Forest Lodge, to watch England’s memorable and nerve-wracking win over Mexico, with a 10-man England squad agonizingly clinging to their lead in the intense atmosphere of the Azteca Stadium.
As patron of the Football Association and the royal family’s staunchest football supporter, William’s attachment to the team runs deep.
He has been in direct contact with players and staff throughout the summer, with several members of the England squad having his personal phone number.
If England had managed to maintain their lead and progress, Prince William was scheduled to fly to New Jersey to represent the FA and the Royal Family at the World Cup final on July 19.
