England captain Harry Kane has been presented with a special commemorative package by Prince William ahead of jetting out to Germany for Euro 2024 later today.
The Prince of Wales arrived at St George’s Park on Monday morning to greet the England players as they returned to their training base after being given the weekend off by Gareth Southgate.
After giving some last-minute advice to the players which included a tongue-in-cheek from his son, Prince Louis, that the players should ‘eat twice the amount you normally would’ to emerge victorious from the Euros, Prince William handed out packages to each of the 26-man squad.
Captain Kane went up to receive his package which contained his shirt, as well as the previous stars to have worn the No9.
He was also given a large souvenier labelled ‘all time goalscorer’, alongside pictures of Kane as a youngster playing for his first youth club Ridgeway Rovers at Ridgeway Park, to honour the 30-year-old’s record of 63 goals for his country.
Harry Kane was presented with a special Euro 2024 package by Prince William on Monday
The package revealed the previous players to have worn the No9 shirt for England at the Euros
It also contained a large souvenier which showed Kane playing for his youth team that gave a nod to him being his country’s leading all-time goalscorer
Kane is only the eighth player to wear the No9 at a European Championship for England, having also donned the famous jersey in 2016 and 2021.
England greats Bobby Charlton, Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney wore it before him, as well as David Johnson, Peter Beardsley, Nigel Clough and Andy Carroll.
Kane failed to net in his first Euros in 2016, but was on target four times during England’s run to the final three years ago before they lost on penalties to Italy.
After picking up his package, Kane posed for a photo with Prince William.
William also visited the England players prior to their last major tournament – the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
On that occasion, all 26 squad members, including midfield superstar Jude Bellingham, received packages with details of the previous players to wear their shirt number plus an inspirational final message from Southgate.
It wasn’t enough to help them go all the way in the Middle East as they crashed out in the quarter-finals to France, with Harry Kane missing a late penalty to send the game to extra time.
The England skipper will hope for better luck this time around as the Three Lions aim to end their wait for tournament glory that stretches back to 1966.
Prince William also presented packages to England’s stars – including Jude Bellingham – ahead of the 2022 World Cup
Each player received a souvenir which showed off their journey from their first club
Eberechi Eze and Ezri Konsa also had their first clubs marked in the packages they received
William was in good spirits as he chatted with Jill Scott (left), Kane (centre) and Gareth Southgate (second right)
William then went for a stroll with Scott (left), Kane (right) and Ollie Watkins (second right)
William appeared in good spirits during his stay at England’s training base and was seen chatting with Kane and his fellow striker Ollie Watkins.
Jill Scott – who won the Euros with the Lionesses two years ago – was also on hand as William strolled through St George’s Park on an overcast morning in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.
Kane and his team-mates will soon be flying off to their German training base – the five-star Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort – where they will hope to remain for the next month.
They kickstart their Euros campaign on Sunday when they face Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.
