The Prince of Wales sent a special message to a football fan group who are commemorating a significant anniversary while on family vacation this week.
As the LGBT football team Arsenal Gaygooners celebrated their ten-year anniversary, Prince William wrote them a letter of encouragement and support.
They have 1400 members worldwide and were the first LGBT football fan group in the UK.
The letter stated that “the prince was thrilled to learn of the significant work [Arsenal Gaygooners] are doing to ensure football is an inclusive experience for fans”.
The group’s co-chair, Carl Fearn, issued the following statement: “We celebrate our tenth anniversary with pride, joy, and perhaps a little annoyance that organizations like ours are needed more than ever before as we work to make football inclusive for everyone.
“We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who joined as a member, to the volunteers and committee members who gave of their time, and to Arsenal for joining us on this amazing 10-year journey.
“We are proud of our history and Arsenal’s commitment to ensuring that LGBT+ fans feel at home watching football.”
On February 16, 2013, the organization was founded by honorary president Stewart Selby with assistance from senior Arsenal Football Club staff. The formation of the Pride in Football campaign was prompted by the emergence of additional LGBT football fan groups.
The football association’s president and father of three royal children is a die-hard fan of the sport.
The Prince made a surprise solo visit to Ipswich Hospital, a unit of the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, just before Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis parted ways for half term. There, he learned more about the organization and thanked the staff for their dedication.