Around 65,000 fans as well as royalty came out to celebrate with England’s Lionesses today following their historic victory at the UEFA European Women’s Championship.
Crowds of people lined The Mall, donning England shirts, flags and face paint, as they cheered an open-top bus parade carrying the England women’s team.
It follows their dramatic victory over Spain on Sunday, where Chloe Kelly sealed the win with a decisive penalty in a tense shootout, securing England’s position as back-to-back European champions.
Wearing white Nike T-shirts and England scarves, the team took photos with their phones as the buses travelled down the street, led by the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth.
“I have been crying all the way down The Mall”, England captain Leah Williamson said as she desperately tried to hold back tears while speaking during the ceremony.
“This is unbelievable, it’s one of the best things we have been a part of,” she added, saying the tournament was “hard earned” with its ups and downs.
The 28-year-old, who plays for Women's Super League club Arsenal, said: "We're making history every single step. Stay with us, this story is not done yet."
Lioness Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning penalty in the Euros final, dropped the F-bomb when describing how special the team’s support has been at home and at the Euros in Switzerland.
Read more: How Wiegman sealed her place in England hearts at Lionesses’ parade
The forward told host Alex Scott: "(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.
"Thank you to everyone that got out to support us, whether that's in Switzerland or here today. It's so f****** special."
Scott immediately apologised to the crowd for the language.
When asked about the penalty shootout in the final match, Kelly told fans: “Pressure, what pressure?”
Manager Sarina Wiegman danced alongside afrobeat star Burna Boy on stage while there was also a performance of Proud by Heather Small, before captain Leah Williamson lifted the trophy in the air to huge cheers.
The squad then posed for photos with the gathered fans on the Mall amid a large red fireworks display, before singing along to Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline as it played over the speakers.
Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mozzi came with her children to see the trophy parade.
The couple, with children Sienna, Athena and Christopher, joined fans lining the Mall to watch the Lionesses celebrate with their trophy.
Alessia Russo, who scored the Lionesses' equaliser with a header against Spain in the final, described the celebrations on The Mall as "a bit surreal".
Asked by BBC News how she was feeling whilst on the open-top bus, she said: "Tired, but on cloud nine. I mean, this is just unreal.
"We didn't really know what to expect coming into it today, but everyone was so excited on the bus, and it feels so nice to come back to England and celebrate with our fans."
Asked to describe the scenes in central London, Russo added: "It's just a bit surreal. It's crazy to see this many people come out in the home of England at London, heading up to Buckingham Palace - it's just crazy.
"I'd never have dreamed of anything like it."
Celebrations on home soil began on Monday when the team landed at Southend Airport in Essex, where hundreds of fans waited to catch a glimpse of Sarina Wiegman's side and the trophy.
The Lionesses attended a reception at Downing Street hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer offered "a huge, huge congratulations to you and to the whole team" as he spoke with Wiegman and some of the Lionesses via a video call from the garden of No 10.
The King also congratulated the European champions on Monday, saying in a statement posted on X: "You have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms.
"Well done, Lionesses."
Royal celebrations could continue for the team as plans for a reception at either Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle in the autumn are being explored by royal aides, it is understood.
