Under the watchful eyes of royalty, 65,000 proud Britons lined The Mall on Tuesday to honour England’s trailblazing Lionesses, who returned home as back-to-back European champions after a nail-biting victory over Spain in the Euro 2025 final.
The atmosphere was electric as the national heroes rode an open-top bus from Admiralty Arch to Buckingham Palace, waving to throngs of flag-waving fans in a display of unity, pride, and national celebration.
Lionesses celebrate Euros win at 10 Downing Street. Picture by Alecsandra Dragoi / No 10 Downing Street
“It’s unbelievable, probably one of the best things we’ve been a part of,” said England captain Leah Williamson, still overcome with emotion as she addressed the crowd outside the Queen Victoria Memorial. “I’ve been crying all the way down The Mall.”
The 28-year-old Arsenal defender, who has led her team with grit and grace, summed up the moment with a defiant promise: “We’re making history every single step. Stay with us, this story is not done yet.”
The victory marks another landmark in a golden era for women’s football in England, and the Lionesses’ courage and composure have captured the hearts of a nation. Their dramatic win in Switzerland was sealed by none other than Chloe Kelly, who converted the decisive penalty, just as she scored the winner in the Euro 2022 final.
“Pressure, what pressure?” joked Kelly, 27, also of Arsenal. Beaming with pride, she praised the unwavering spirit of the squad: “[It is] so good to stand side by side with every single one of these girls throughout the whole tournament, and the staff that you don’t see behind the scenes. It’s incredible.”
Among the sea of supporters were people of every age and background, living proof of the team’s immense impact across generations. Even members of the Royal Family joined the celebration, with Princess Beatrice of York showing her support. But one of the day’s most surprising and unforgettable moments came when England’s head coach, Sarina Wiegman, was stunned by a surprise appearance from her favourite artist, Burna Boy. The singer serenaded the team with For My Hand, while the usually composed Dutchwoman let loose in front of thousands.
The Football Association confirmed that at least 65,000 supporters attended the parade, with Morgan admitting some of the players were unsure if crowds would show up: “A few of us said the other day ‘we hope the parade is not the full length of The Mall because there might not be enough people to fill it’. But we showed up today and it was absolutely packed. I can’t believe it.”
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham echoed the sentiment, revealing the players had repeatedly asked if anyone would turn up. “We were like ‘yeah, they definitely will come’… but the British public are just incredible and really did us proud today.”
The celebration continued at Downing Street and then back on The Mall, where Heather Small sang Proud, the unofficial anthem of England’s Euro 2025 campaign, echoing through the crowd just as it had in the team’s dressing room throughout the tournament.
As the confetti settled and the cheers rang out across the capital, one thing was clear: these Lionesses are more than champions, they are national icons. And as they set their sights on redemption at the 2027 World Cup, the country stands firmly behind them.
Because this is not the end, it’s the continuation of a legacy. And England is watching, roaring, and ready.
Main Image: Lionesses celebrate Euros win at 10 Downing Street. Picture by Alecsandra Dragoi / No 10 Downing Street. Creative Commons – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
