King Charles has jokingly urged the England football team to avoid late drama in the Euro final, after super-sub Ollie Watkins’ last-gasp winner sent the Three Lions through the semis.
Sky News host Danica De Giorgio has reacted to Prince William cutting loose at the Euro 2024 quarter-final match.
A video of the Prince of Wales has gone viral for his hilariously animated reactions to the England team’s successes at the Euro football championship over the weekend.
It comes after he was caught ‘dad-dancing’ at Taylor Swift’s London concert last month.
The Three Lions went behind for the third time in the tournament when Dutch winger Xavi Simons’ belter from outside the box throttled the Oranje into the lead after just seven minutes.
It didn’t take long for England to hit back, with captain Harry Kane dispatching a penalty from the spot 11 minutes later, albeit in controversial circumstances as defender Denzel Dumfries was judged to have collected the striker with his boot.
The tie remained a stalemate and appeared to be heading to extra time again for England, before substitutes Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins combined for a sensational winner after being brought onto the pitch with 10 minutes remaining.
Substitute Ollie Watkins was the hero for England in their Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands. Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Picking up the ball as the clock ticked into stoppage time, Palmer threaded it through for Watkins, who slotted an exceptional finish across the keeper into the bottom corner of the net to ultimately win the game.
“I swear on my life, my kids’ life. I said to Cole Palmer, ‘we’re coming on today and you’re going to set me up,'” Watkins told a reporter after the match about how he manifested his goal into existence.
King Charles sent a message of encouragement to the squad after their stunning victory, as they prepare to face favourites Spain in the final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Monday 5am AEST (Sunday 9pm local time).
“My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the U.E.F.A. European Championship – and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday’s match,” he said.
England fans went berserk following Ollie Watkins’ last-gasp winner. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
He also asked England to finish the job quicker in the final, after three consecutive heart-stopping finishes – securing an extra time victory in the round of 16, penalties in the quarter finals, and a 90th minute winner in the semis.
“If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated!” he said.
“Good luck, England.”
English fans in Germany, back home in the UK and at live events across the world were sent into delirium over the victory, with ‘It’s Coming Home’ chants sung loudly as focus turns towards the final.
A London concert by The Killers broadcast the end of the match before the band launched into their mega-hit Mr Brightside.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a brief break from NATO meetings to watch some of the match alongside Dutch President Dick Schoof, shaking hands with him after Kane slotted England’s equaliser.
“Picked the right moment to pop out from NATO meetings and check the score…” he posted on X alongside a video of him celebrating the goal.
England are now in their second European final in a row, and will be looking to erase the heartbreak of their loss to Italy on penalties at Euro 2020.