Royals Rally Behind Paralympians: William and Kate Send Good Luck Message
The Prince and Princess of Wales have extended their support to Great Britain's Paralympic athletes ahead of the Games' commencement in Paris. William and Catherine wished the athletes "the very best of luck" before the Paralympic opening ceremony, which took place this evening.
The royal couple selected wheelchair tennis player Lucy Shuker and wheelchair basketball athlete Terry Bywater to serve as flag bearers for ParalympicsGB.
In their message, posted on X, William and Catherine expressed their excitement for "another few weeks of incredible sport." They commended the athletes' dedication and wished them success at #Paris2024. "W & C," they signed off.
The Duke of Edinburgh, patron of the British Paralympic Association and William's uncle, also shared a message of encouragement via the Royal Family X account. He offered his congratulations to all athletes selected for the Games, urging them "to make us proud and to inspire the next generation".
Their messages of support come following a successful Olympic Games in Paris, where Team GB secured 65 medals, surpassing their total from the Tokyo Olympics. This tally matches their London 2012 performance and represents the third-highest medal haul for Team GB at a single Games, trailing behind Rio 2016 and London 1908.
Following the conclusion of the Olympics, the Prince and Princess shared a congratulatory video message to the athletes. However, the video sparked conversation for reasons beyond the athletes' achievements, as many viewers couldn't help but notice the Prince's newly grown holiday beard.
The Princess, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, has been seen at more public events recently, including Wimbledon, where she received a standing ovation.
