England Women's World Cup squad enjoy day out at Wimbledon after Prince William praises team for 'showing the men how to do it' following semi-final appearance
- England women's squad attended a reception at Kensington Palace
- Prince William praised the players for their performance at World Cup
- Later members of the squad spent the day in the Centre Court crowd
- The players were paid a visit by England legend David Beckham
Members of England Women's World Cup squad spent the afternoon in the crowd at Centre Court on Thursday to watch the Ladies' semi-finals.
Mark Sampson's side had to settle for a bronze medal after their own last four heartache but were all smiles as they attended the match between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova at SW19.
Manchester City star Toni Duggan, Jill Scott, Claire Rafferty and Carly Telford were among the players in attendance and even got the chance to meet former England international David Beckham.
Jill Scott, Claire Rafferty, Toni Duggan and Carly Telford pose for a picture at Wimbledon on Thursday
England midfielder Scott poses with former men's captain David Beckham at Wimbledon
Former England captain David Beckham (back to camera) chats with Duggan and Scott on Centre Court
Duggan checks her phone as her and Scott talk to Beckham ahead of Serena Williams vs Maria Sharapova
Earlier in the day the Duke of Cambridge had praised the team for eclipsing their male counterparts with their 'fantastic' World Cup performance.
William, president of the Football Association, hosted a Kensington Palace reception for the footballers, who won a bronze medal in Canada - the best England result at a major tournament not played on home soil.
The squad had been wished well in person by the Duke before they left for the World Cup and he remained in regular contact, sending the players messages, speaking to them by phone and staying up into the early hours to watch their matches.
And he shared many laughs with them during the breakfast event, telling the women: 'You showed the men how to do it - I really mean it.'
He also told the team that the country had been supporting them while they were away: 'You really gave it your all, and everybody here noticed it - social media was alive with it.
'I'm so proud now it's the Euros,' he said, adding, to laughs from the players: 'Now the pressure really starts.'
Prince William jokes with three England players during a breakfast reception at Kensington Palace
England's World Cup players pose for a team photo with the Duke of Cambridge and manager Mark Sampson
He went on: 'What you created as a team - it's fantastic. You're only going to get bigger and better.'
William joked about his son, Prince George, telling the team 'I was going to bring George this morning', and when they let out a collective sigh of disappointment he said the toddler was playing with his toy plane.
One of England's most senior players, Casey Stoney, dismissed the row over a tweet from the official England FA Twitter account, criticised on social media as sexist, which welcomed the players back earlier this week with the words; ' Our #lionnesses go back to being mothers, partners and daughters today, but they have taken on another title - heroes.'
England's World Cup heroines pose for a selfie at Kensington Palace with William in the background
The squad, wearing their bronze medals, later met Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street
The former England captain said: 'I find it incredible that someone would find that sexist.
'When I came back to this country was I a mum? Yes. Was I a daughter? Yes.
'To me it was black and white, just facts, and to be called a hero is amazing.'
The players later visited Downing Street for a reception where they were hoping to meet Prime Minister David Cameron.
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