Leah Williamson told England fans “the story isn’t over yet” as 65,000 supporters gathered on the Mall to celebrate the Lionesses’ successful defense of their European Championship title.
The captain and her teammates celebrated with stars like soul singer Heather Small and Burna Boy—who danced on stage with head coach Sarina Wiegman—just two days after their victory over Spain in Basel. The win made them the first senior England football team to claim a major trophy on foreign soil.
Following an open-top bus parade down the Mall, Williamson was emotional seeing the massive crowd outside Buckingham Palace. “I’m fighting back tears,” she said. “I’ve been crying the whole way here. This is unbelievable—thank you all for coming. Everything we do, we do for our team, for our country, and for young girls. This opportunity didn’t exist 30 or 40 years ago, and we’re making history with every step. Stay with us—this story isn’t finished yet.”
When asked how this victory compared to their 2022 Euros win, Williamson replied: “There are many ways to win, and we did it the hard way. You can see how much we care about playing for England. 2022 felt like a fairytale, but this one was truly hard-earned. We’re so proud, and we hope you are too.”
The Lionesses lost their opening match against France but fought back to defeat the Netherlands, Wales, Sweden, and Italy before overcoming Spain 3-1 on penalties in the final. “That first game shook us,” Williamson admitted, “but this team is special. We have each other’s backs, and no matter what challenges came, we rose to them.”
Their next goal? Winning the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil—a challenge set by King Charles himself in his congratulatory message.
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, a standout performer in the tournament, shared her journey: “My teammates carried me through, especially when things didn’t start the way I wanted. Standing here with this group is amazing. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do. I was told I wasn’t good enough, but if football makes you happy, chase that dream.”
Young Player of the Tournament Michelle Agyemang, 19, who scored key equalizers in the quarter- and semi-finals, was overwhelmed by the reception: “This still feels unreal—like it’s not really happening! It’s crazy to see what we’ve achieved.”
As the celebrations continued, the Lionesses basked in the love of their fans, already looking ahead to their next chapter.y.
