Royals British Royal Family British Royal Family News Prince William Pens Message as 'England Fan' as Soccer Manager Resigns After Euro Final Loss "Thank you for being an all-round class act," the Prince of Wales told Gareth Southgate as he resigned after almost eight years as manager By Becca Longmire Becca Longmire Becca Longmire is a digital news writer-reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on ET Canada, Metro and the Mail Online. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 16, 2024 09:18AM EDT Prince William and Gareth Southgate. Photo: Paul Cooper - WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince William is voicing his appreciation for England soccer team manager Gareth Southgate following his resignation. On Tuesday, July 16, Southgate confirmed he was stepping down from the role after England lost to Spain 2-1 in Sunday, July 14's Euro 2024 final. Former soccer player Southgate, 53, was appointed manager in 2016 and has been in charge ever since. After the news was announced, the Prince of Wales, 42, who is president of the Football Association, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram. "Gareth, I want to thank you - not as the President of the FA, but as an @England fan. Thank you for creating a team that stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s finest in 2024," William wrote, alongside a photo of the pair laughing. The Cutest Photos of Kate Middleton and Prince William Enjoying Sports with Their Kids "Thank you for showing humility, compassion, and true leadership under the most intense pressure and scrutiny. And thank you for being an all-round class act. You should be incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved," he added. He signed the post "W," which is shorthand for William, indicating the personal nature of the message. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Prince George and Prince William attend the Euro 2024 final on July 14, 2024. Jean Catuffe/Getty The royal's message came after Southgate shared in a statement posted by the England team on X (formerly known as Twitter), “As a proud Englishman, it has been the honor of my life to play for England and to manage England." “It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all," he added. "After 102 games and almost eight years in charge, Gareth Southgate has announced he is to leave his role as manager of the #ThreeLions," the team said. Why Prince Louis Didn't Join Kate Middleton or Prince William at Sporting Events Like His Siblings Soccer fan William traveled to Berlin, Germany with his son Prince George, 10, to watch the action unfold at the UEFA European Championship final on Sunday. After the team's loss, Willian wrote on X, "This time it just wasn’t meant to be. We’re all still so proud of you. Onwards @England. W." The England's men's team also lost the 2020 Euro final, which took place in London, England in July 2021, to Italy on penalties. The Prince and Princess of Wales then shared a sweet photo on Instagram showing Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, watching the game in England shirts with their ages on the back. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Sunday was a busy day in terms of sports for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their kids. Earlier in the day, Princess Kate attended the Wimbledon men's singles finals with Princess Charlotte, where they watched Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-2 7-6 (4). It was a rare public outing for Kate, who is patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, as she continues her cancer treatment after revealing her diagnosis in March.