Prince William has congratulated England's World Cup team following their 2-1 victory over DR Congo in a Round of 32 match. The Prince of Wales, an Aston Villa fan, took to social media to share a playful message stating he was "never in doubt" about the team's win.
England secured their place in the last 16 of the tournament against Mexico thanks to two late goals from captain Harry Kane. William shared the final score on his social media account, accompanying a post from the England team's Instagram page with the caption: "Never in doubt, well done England! Onto the next! W."
England is set to face hosts Mexico in their next match, a fixture that will kick off at 1 a.m. GMT in Mexico City, presenting a late night for UK-based supporters. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time.
This message of support follows Prince William's participation in the traditional Order of the Thistle service at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. The event marked a continuation of Royal Week in Scotland, an annual visit to celebrate Scottish culture. King Charles and Queen Camilla were also in attendance for the service, during which new Knights and Ladies are installed into the ancient order by the Sovereign.
During the Royal Week events, Prince William, also known as the Duke of Rothesay when in Scotland, was seen alongside Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh. The procession for the Order of the Thistle service began at the city's Signet Library and moved into the chapel before concluding at the cathedral. Following the service, members of the royal family attended a reception and lunch at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Earlier in the day, Prince William had been in Aberdeen for an engagement related to his Homewards initiative, which addresses homelessness. He then traveled to Edinburgh to join his father, King Charles, for the royal festivities. Princess Anne and Prince Edward also participated in earlier engagements, including a garden party for local dignitaries at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Reports also indicated that King Charles hosted a family dinner in Scotland prior to the Order of the Thistle service. While private gatherings are not officially recorded, the event reportedly included senior royals. The presence of Prince William, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward at the dinner suggests potential discussions on various royal matters, including the ongoing situation regarding Prince Harry's potential visit to the UK and security arrangements for the Duke of Sussex and his family. Buckingham Palace has not commented on the dinner or its attendees.