Euro 2024: Plans for huge open-top bus parade and meeting with King Charles if England win

The England team could be heading to Buckingham Palace to be honoured by King Charles and the Royal Family as part of a huge victory parade if they win the Euro 2024 final this Sunday, reports the Mirror.

The squad beat the Netherlands on Wednesday night and will be going head-to-head with Spain this Sunday (July 14). As part of celebrations, if they win, an open-top bus parade would take the team from Guildhall, in the City of London, to Buckingham Palace, making a stop at Trafalgar Square, on Tuesday (July 16). It is expected that millions of fans would take to the streets to support the victory.

A royal reception is likely to be led by Prince William, who is president of the FA, on Monday. The team is also expected to head down to Downing Street to meet the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is also reportedly attending the final at Berlin's Olympiastadion.

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Tuesday's celebrations could be similar to those after the England victory at the Rugby World Cup in 2003, which also saw the team meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace and a an open top bus parade.

Of course, if Spain were to win the match there would be no celebrations, but it is reported by the Mirror that the FA have made plans, working with the Metropolitan Police, London Councils and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

London hasn’t hosted a victory parade since the 2012 Olympics, held to honour the achievements of Team GB, which started at Mansion House and passed through Trafalgar Square, before finishing at Buckingham Palace. Members of the Royal Family were in attendance, including Anne, Princess Royal, who is a former Olympian.

Team manager Gareth Southgate had faced criticism from fans earlier in the Euros 2024 tournament. After Wednesday night’s victory he said: “We all want to be loved, right? When you are doing something for your country and you are a proud Englishman, when all you read is criticism… it is hard. To be able to celebrate a second final is very, very special.”

The Euros final will be held Sunday 14 July at 8:00pm BST time and will be shown on BBC One, BBC Sport and ITV.

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