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The King has sent a good luck message to the Lionesses ahead of their historic World Cup final against Spain.

“May you roar to victory,” King Charles said in a social media post ahead of Sunday’s match.

The King and Queen are set to be among the 13 million Britons expected to tune in for the historic game, which kicks off in Sydney at 11am UK time today.

A Buckingham Palace source said: “Both Their Majesties will be following Sunday’s events with the greatest interest.”

England men’s boss Gareth Southgate followed the monarch in offering his best wishes to Sarina Wiegman‘s team, aiming to become England’s first World Cup-winning footballers since 1966.

But he admitted he had “no advice” to offer a team that has accomplished what his has not.

Speaking in a video posted on the Lionesses’ social media, Southgate said: “Hi to you all out there in Australia. You’re doing a brilliant job, so that’s the first thing, and of course there is no advice because you’ve done more than us already, and you know what is needed to win.

“So all that remains is to wish you the very best for the final, and we hope you can bring that trophy back. Good luck everybody.”

His sentiments were echoed by England men’s captain Harry Kane, who during the tournament completed a £100m move to Bayern Munich.

He said: “Hi Lionesses, I just wanted to say best of luck for the World Cup final on Sunday. I’ll be watching.

“Amazing journey so far, you should be really proud of yourselves. We’re all behind you, all supporting you, we know you can do it, so go and get that World Cup win and bring that trophy home. All the best.”

The London Eye lit up on Saturday night in England's colours ahead of Sunday's World Cup final
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The London Eye lit up on Saturday night in England’s colours ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final

‘You’ve made us all proud’

In other messages of support, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “you’ve made us all proud”.

“Whatever the result, I want you to know that you have secured a lasting legacy,” he said.

“That every girl in this country will have equal access to all school sport, including football.”

Mr Sunak said from being crowned European champions at Wembley last year, to their dramatic campaign in Australia this summer, the squad had made young girls “feel they belong on the pitch”.

“So, in a way, you’ve already brought football home,” he said, referencing the popular England anthem.

“All that remains is to bring the trophy home too – and the whole nation is rooting for you.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer echoed similar sentiments in his letter to the Lionesses as he told them that “everyone back in England is with you all the way”.

Sir Keir said: “No matter what happens on Sunday, the whole country will always be grateful to you for ensuring a generation of youngsters walk taller and prouder.

“Just as for previous games we will be tuning in as a family, kicking every ball while trying to keep a lid on our nerves. Millions of households will be doing the same.”

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Experts are predicting the match could shatter previous viewing records for a women’s football match, which included an average audience of 11 million for the Euros final in 2022 against Germany.

With Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove being forced to write to local councils to ask them to do “everything they can to help pubs get open earlier on Sunday”, it is thought most will stay home to watch the game.

Read more:
Where to watch England v Spain final
The stars who might bring home Women’s World Cup glory

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Wiegman: ‘We hope we’ll play our best game ever’

William and Charlotte’s good luck message

Mr Sunak has opted not to travel to the match and will be among those watching from home, with the foreign and culture secretaries to represent the government at Stadium Australia.

None of Britain’s royals will be there, either, with Prince William issuing an apology.

Prince William’s absence from this tournament will not go unnoticed


Rob Harris

Rob Harris

Sports correspondent

@RobHarris

This is about more than the royals not attending the World Cup final.

Their absence from the entire tournament seems glaring when it has been co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand – both countries where the British monarch is head of state.

Charles, as Prince of Wales, attended the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on the Gold Coast in 2018.

And the absence of the heir to the throne will be particularly pronounced in Sydney on Sunday when England face off with Spain for football’s biggest prize because William is president of the Football Association.

It has already been noted among FIFA’s leadership when games at this World Cup are attended by lower ranking football officials from countries.

And Queen Letizia of Spain will be at Stadium Australia.

The lack of senior English dignitaries will surely linger in minds of FIFA – particularly when there are potential future World Cup bids to be won.

The prince has come in for particular criticism because he is the president of the Football Association (FA).

“Sorry we can’t be there in person,” he said in a video on Saturday, joined by daughter Princess Charlotte.

The young royal said in the clip: “Good luck Lionesses!”

William wished the team “huge good luck” for the match, saying his family are “so proud of everything you have achieved and the millions you have inspired here and around the world”.

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Royal message: ‘Good luck Lionesses!’

Women and girls around the country celebrate progress

As the Lionesses take to the field, they will be backed by hordes of women and girls rooting for their heroes, with many celebrating the progress that has been made since their parents and grandparents were denied a chance to play the game.

One fan, 70-year-old Gail Newsham, says she can’t wait to see the team take to the pitch, after growing up at a time when women were banned from the sport.

She told the AP news agency: “I’ll be wearing my shirt, I’ll be having a sausage roll and a glass of bubbles. That’s what I’ve done every match, so I’m going to do it again on Sunday and just, you know, cheer the girls on.”

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How Lionesses inspire young fan

Ava, 10, is just one of the young girls inspired by the Lionesses.

The young footballer, whose favourite player is injured captain Leah Williamson, told Sky News she was “nervous” about the final and there would be “big cheers” if England won.

“I see them as people I want to become,” she said.

“It’s inspirational how women who used to not be able to do a lot of stuff have climbed up the mountain to become the best they can be.”

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‘Moment of inspiration’ – what football means for Starmer family

England boss Wiegman has said her players are hoping to play their “best game ever” to bring the trophy home.

She said: “We felt the support, we felt the support here, but also from the other side of the world in the UK. That’s something that we dream of.”

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Lingering dread over what else about Prince Andrew could still emerge

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Lingering dread over what else about Prince Andrew could still emerge

Just a cursory glance at the headlines, and it’s clear the disgrace and downfall of Prince Andrew is not over.

So what next for the man and the monarchy?

The King might have hoped his involvement showed direct action had been taken.

He certainly does not want any distraction from his upcoming state visit to the Vatican.

But that might be wishful thinking.

Now the Met Police has been dragged in too. Forced to look into reports in the Mail on Sunday that Andrew asked his protection officer to smear his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.

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Police ‘looking into’ Andrew claims

The prince allegedly wanted his officer “to dig up dirt” and told an aide at the palace what he had done.

More on Prince Andrew

Let’s be clear: back then, Andrew’s security was funded by the taxpayer.

So are we reaching the endgame, and what does that look like?

Andrew might have given up the use of his title, Duke of York, and other honours too.

Read more:
Call for Prince Andrew to ‘live in exile’

How Prince Andrew allegations unfolded
Everything we know about titles decision

But what about his style ‘prince’? Some want that ditched too.

It’s a complicated but not impossible process. Andrew could, of course, just stop using it voluntarily.

Some want him to give up his home, too. For a non-working royal, the stately Royal Lodge, with its plum position on the Windsor Estate, is an uncomfortable optic.

Andrew’s wider family is worried. The Sunday Times has reported that the Prince of Wales wants him cut off completely.

With the reputation of the monarchy at risk, William does not want to appear weak. He’s putting loyalty to “the firm” firmly above his familial relationships.

Prince Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations, and restated on Friday: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me”. Sky News has approached him for comment on the fresh allegations set out in the Mail on Sunday.

But with Virginia Giuffre’s tragic death and posthumous memoir due out on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace will be braced for more scandal.

When Andrew gave up his titles, there was certainly a sense of relief.

There is now a sense of dread over what else could emerge.

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Why Andrew hasn’t given up being a prince – amid call for him to ‘live in exile’

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Why Andrew hasn't given up being a prince - amid call for him to 'live in exile'

Sky News’ royal commentator has explained why Prince Andrew has not given up being called a prince – while another expert has said “the decent thing” for him to do would be “go into exile” overseas.

Andrew announced on Friday that he would stop using his Duke of York title and relinquish all other honours, including his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

However, he will continue to be known as a prince.

Royal commentator Alastair Bruce said that while Andrew’s other honours and titles were conferred to him later in life, he became a prince when he was born to Elizabeth II while she was queen.

He told presenter Kamali Melbourne: “I think […] that style was quite special to the late Queen,” he said. “And perhaps the King, for the moment, thinks that can be left alone.

“It’s a matter really for the King, for the royal household, perhaps with the guidance and advice of government, which I’m sure they are taking.”

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Who pushed Andrew to drop his titles?

Since Andrew’s announcement, there has been speculation over whether any further measures will be taken – and one author has now called for him to “go into exile”.

More on Prince Andrew

Andrew Lownie, author of The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, said: “The only way the story will go away is if he leaves Royal Lodge, goes into exile abroad with his ex-wife, and is basically stripped of all his honours, including Prince Andrew.”

Royal Lodge is the Windsor mansion Andrew lives in with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has also lost her Duchess of York title.

Andrew and his former wife continue to live on the Windsor estate. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Andrew and his former wife continue to live on the Windsor estate. Pic: Reuters

Mr Lownie continued: “He makes out he’s an honourable man and he’s putting country and family first. Well, if he is, then the optics look terrible for the monarchy. A non-working royal in a 30-room Crown Estate property with a peppercorn rent.

“He should do the decent thing and go. And frankly, he should go into exile.”

Mr Lownie added if the Royal Family “genuinely want to cut links, they have to put pressure on him to voluntarily get out”.

Read more from Sky News:
How Prince Andrew allegations unfolded
William and Camilla’s influential roles

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Windsor’s take on Prince Andrew

Andrew’s decision to stop using his titles was announced amid renewed scrutiny of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and fresh stories linked to the late Virginia Giuffre.

Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, alleged she was sexually assaulted by Andrew on three occasions – which he has always vigorously denied.

The former duke paid to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.

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Families whose loved ones took their lives after buying poison online write to PM

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Families whose loved ones took their lives after buying poison online write to PM

Bereaved families whose loved ones took their own lives after buying the same poison online have written to the prime minister demanding urgent action.

Warning: This article contains references to suicide

The group claims there have been “multiple missed opportunities” to shut down online forums that promote suicide and dangerous substances.

They warn that over 100 people have died after purchasing a particular poison in the last 10 years.

Among those who have written to Downing Street is Pete Aitken, whose daughter Hannah was 22 when she took her own life after buying the poison from a website.

Hannah was autistic and had ADHD. She was treated in six different mental health hospitals over a four-year period.

Mr Aitken recently spoke to Sky News around the second anniversary of Hannah’s death.

More on Mental Health

He said: “Autistic people seem to be most vulnerable to this kind of sort of poison and, you know, wanting to take their lives.”

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Pete Aitken speaking to Sky News

Sky News is not naming the poison, but Hannah was able to buy a kilogram of it online. Just one gram is potentially fatal.

“There’s this disparity between the concentration required for its legitimate use and that required for ending your life. And it seems quite clear you could make a distinction,” Mr Aitken said.

Analysis from the Molly Rose Foundation and the group Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms says at least 133 people have died because of the poison. It also says coroners have written warnings about the substance on 65 separate occasions.

The report accuses the Home Office of failing to strengthen the regulation of the poison and says not enough is being done to close dangerous suicide forums online.

Lawyers representing the group want a public inquiry into the deaths.

In a joint letter to the prime minister, the families said: “We write as families whose loved ones were let down by a state that was too slow to respond to the threat.

“This series of failings requires a statutory response, not just to understand why our loved ones died but also to prevent more lives being lost in a similar way.”

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The group’s lawyer, Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: “The government is rightly committed to preventing deaths through suicide, yet despite repeated warnings of the risks posed by an easily accessible substance, fatal in small quantities and essentially advertised on online forums, no meaningful steps have been taken.”

Hannah's dad is one of the family members to have signed the letter
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Hannah’s dad is one of the family members to have signed the letter

A government spokesperson said: “Suicide devastates families and we are unequivocal about the responsibilities online services have to keep people safe on their platforms.

“Under the Online Safety Act, services must take action to prevent users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content and ensure children are protected from harmful content that promotes it.

“If they fail to do so, they can expect to face robust enforcement, including substantial fines.”

They added that the position is “closely monitored and reportable under the Poisons Act, meaning retailers must alert authorities if they suspect it is being bought to cause harm”.

“We will continue to keep dangerous substances under review to ensure the right safeguards are in place,” they said.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

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