Euro 2020: Princes Harry and George and Kate Middleton watch England victory over Germany at Wembley

4.1k

View
comments

Prince George stole the limelight as he joined his parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to watch England play Germany in the European Football Championship last night.

The young royal, seven, dressed in a smart suit and tie similar to his father’s, made a surprise appearance alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 39, at Wembley Stadium for the Euro 2020 last-16 clash.

It was a big moment for George, who only steps into the spotlight with his parents on select occasions, as he enjoyed his first England game, while his sister Princess Charlotte, six, and brother Prince Louis, three, most likely stayed at home.

The eldest Cambridge sibling, who shares the same name with the patron saint of England, watched as the Three Lions triumphed over Germany, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling.

After the triumphant game at Wembley Stadium, the Duke and Duchess took to their official Twitter account to praise the team’s ‘incredible performance’. 

At the start of the night young George, who is an avid football enthusiast like his father, amused fans when he mumbled shyly while the stadium joined together with the players to sing God Save the Queen, as some pointed out the song was about his great-grandmother.

For the occasion, George, who was spotted talking to former footballer David Beckham during the evening, donned a smart suit just like his father Prince William, with a similar tie in pink and blue teamed with a light blue shirt underneath.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cambridge showed her support in the colours of the England strip as she sported a vibrant red £59.99 Zara blazer for the occasion alongside a white top.

At the start of the match, Prince George seemingly failed to hide his impatience while waiting for the game to begin – and also didn’t seem too sure about singing God Save The Queen with the rest of the crowd. 

The Cambridges’ eldest son looked away while his parents sang the national anthem, perhaps feeling a bit shy about singing with all eyes on him.  

Some royal fans dubbed his attitude ‘relatable,’ as the nation prepared to watch the Three Lions in action.  ‘Prince George is so relatable,’ one fan joked.  ‘”Not that song about granny again!”,’ another said.  ‘Bless him,’ wrote on with a laughing emoji. 

George attended his first live game with his father to watch Aston Villa play against Norwich City in October 2019. 

Then, for his fifth birthday picture that same year, the young prince was photographed in his Three Lions T-shirt by his doting mother at  Kensington Palace during the England ‘lionesses’ World Cup campaign. 

At the time, it was understood to be one of his favourite items of clothing and George could frequently be seen running around the grounds of his home with a football at his feet.

The devoted fan of the game also celebrated his sixth birthday by inviting his whole class at Thomas Battersea to a football-themed party ahead of the end of term in 2019. 

In 2020, it was revealed that Prince George played in a local football team during term time, and had again celebrated his seventh birthday with a football-themed party. 

Vanity Fair’s royal editor Katie Nicholl had anonymous sources tell her at the time: ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if his birthday has a football theme.

‘George is football crazy and actually a very good player. During term time he plays for a local team and Will and Kate are often there to cheer him on.’

For last night’s game, Kate’s stylish ensemble consisted of a textured double-breasted blazer from one of the royal’s favourite High Street brands, Zara. 

The long sleeve jacket boasts a lapel collar, pronounced shoulders and front flap pockets, alongside glitzy golden buttons. 

She teamed the statement garment with a white top and black trousers, while sporting eye-catching pearl drop earrings. 

The mother-of-three finished her fashionable look with a smattering of glamorous makeup and kept her hair in bouncy curled locks. 

Around 45,000 fans were been allowed into the stadium to watch Gareth Southgate’s squad battle the Germans for a place in the quarter-finals. 

Millions more were expected to head to their local – with some even hitting the boozers from as early as 7am yesterday. 

Yesterday, both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer urged employers to authorise an early finish for workers ahead of the blockbuster and scores of people have taken to social media to express their joy at the swift getaway. 

One supporter tweeted: ‘Finished work early, straight home, shower, get me England shirt on, straight to the pub.’ Another added: ‘Work letting me finish early to watch England? Might get the cans out.’ 

Last night’s match is one of the most anticipated in recent memory, with fan parks sold out and more than five million pints expected to be bought. 

The Three Lions were uninspiring but effective en route to the last-16, claiming seven points from nine in Group D with two wins and a draw, which saw England net just twice, though conceding none. 

In Germany, they faced their first major test of the tournament. Joachim Low’s side squeezed through Group F eventually finishing as runners-up behind France, who are now out after their defeat to Switzerland on Monday night. 

England and Germany are certainly no strangers in cup competition. 

The Three Lions claimed their one and only World Cup triumph with victory over last night’s opponents in 1966, thanks to Geoff Hurst’s historic hat-trick. 

There was also the Frank Lampard goal that never was as Germany knocked England out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 

Southgate, in particular, will also remember missing the crucial penalty as Germany beat England in the Euro ’96 semi-final, before going on to win the tournament.

Yesterday, Prince William – known as the Earl of Strathearn when in Scotland- visited the BAE Systems yard in Govan, Glasgow, to meet the team building HMS Glasgow on the banks of the River Clyde.

He revealed his ‘delighted’ wife Kate has been appointed the sponsor of HMS Glasgow – after saying his late grandfather Prince Philip would have been ‘excited and fascinated’ by the skills on display at a shipyard.

The Duke of Cambridge, who joined his grandmother the Queen, 95, for part of Royal Week in Scotland, spoke movingly about the late Duke of Edinburgh after touring the warship under construction.

He also announced that the Duchess of Cambridge has become the sponsor of the Royal Navy frigate and will officially name her after the Queen approved her appointment to the role. 

The royal said: ‘Her Majesty the Queen has approved the appointment of my wife Catherine as sponsor of the superb ship we see taking shape outside – HMS Glasgow.

‘I know that Catherine will be delighted to join you here in Glasgow for the naming ceremony in due course.’ 

He added: ‘My family’s affection for the Royal Navy is well known, and, as I saw the work taking place here today, I was thinking of my grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh. 

‘He would have been fascinated and excited to see such advances in skills and technology being put into practice.’

Philip served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War, had a long association with the service after leaving, and also had a passion for engineering.