Prince William has made a surprising decision to step down from his role as President of the Football Association (FA), a position he has held since 2005. In a bid to focus on his expanding responsibilities, particularly as his father, King Charles, battles cancer, William will now serve as the Patron of the FA in a more scaled-back role.
Kensington Palace also confirmed that Prince William will take on additional roles as the Patron of the Welsh Guards Charity, the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, and President of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
This announcement follows a recent event where Prince William, alongside his eldest son, Prince George, witnessed England's heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final match in Germany. Subsequently, England’s manager Gareth Southgate stepped down from his role, prompting William to issue a heartfelt statement.
"Gareth, I want to thank you - not as the President of the @FA, but as an @England fan," William stated. "Thank you for creating a team that stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s finest in 2024. Thank you for showing humility, compassion, and true leadership under the most intense pressure and scrutiny. And thank you for being an all-round class act. You should be incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved. W."
