Lioness Beth Mead has opened up about receiving an MBE from Prince William and told how his 'face lit up' when she 'walked into the room'.
The trailblazing footballer, 28, was awarded for her contributions to the sport following England's win at the Euro 2022 tournament, at which she was also presented the Golden Boot.
In an interview with OK magazine, she spoke on the 'easy' conversation she had with the future monarch at the investiture ceremony last year, including his concerns over a knee injury she had.
William - who today announced his first public engagement since thePrincess of Wales's cancerdiagnosis - made an impression on the striker as she praised him for his down-to-earth nature.
She told the publication: 'I walked into the room and Prince William's face lit up because he loves football. It was an easy conversation with him because of that common interest.
Lioness Beth Mead has opened up about receiving an MBE from Prince William (both pictured at the investiture ceremony in May 2023)
'He asked how my knee was too - he knew I had an injury, so was asking how the recovery had been. It's nice that someone in that position can still be very normal and talk football'.
In May 2023, the top scorerwas recognised alongside fellow Lioness, defender Lucy Bronze for their Euro tournament win in 2022.
The pair were awarded their MBEsat a ceremony in Windsor Castle, in the first investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle since King Charles's Coronation.
They were among four of England's Euro 2022-winning side included on the New Year Honours list.
In a video posted to the Prince and Princess of Wales's X account last year, Beth said it had been 'an incredible day for myself and my family'.
She added: 'We've put the game on such a good foundation now that we've got to keep growing and hopefully there's much better footballers coming through than we are.
'I'm excited to see what the next generation has to come.'
The triumph followed the tragic news that her mother had died following a 'long and brave battle' with ovarian cancer in January2023.
Beth was awarded an MBE for her contributions to football following England's win at the Women's Euro 2022 tournament (pictured: Beth plays for Arsenal during the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup Final match against Chelsea at Molineux stadium, Wolverhampton in March)
The Prince also congratulated Beth at the Euro 2022 final following their win (both pictured at Wembley Stadium, London)
William made an impression on the striker as she praised him for his down-to-earth nature
June Mead was diagnosed with the illness in 2021 and passed away at 1am on January 7.
The first female footballer to be crowned Sports Personality of the Yearconfirmed the tragedyin an Instagram post alongside several family pictures.
She said 'Thought long and hard about what to write but there will never be any words that will do justice.
'At 1am on the 7th of Jan, our beautiful, kind, funny Mum & Wife passed away after a long & brave battle against Ovarian Cancer.
'She was surrounded by myself, my brother & dad as she passed away peacefully.
'Our hearts are broken, there will be a piece missing forever but heaven has now gained a special angel.
'If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever. I'm sad that you are gone, but I'm more grateful for the time we had together.
The courageous player recently returned to the game following a severe knee injury - which she said the Prince of Wales asked her about (pictured at the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 at Old Trafford, Manchester)
'Our family would appreciate some privacy during this difficult time. We love you lots, forever & always. RIP Mama.'
In her interview with OK magazine she recalled that the disease had advanced to a stage where her mother 'could no longer come back from'.
She also disclosed that she was working closely with charities in order to help women affected by ovarian cancer.
At the time Beth had also been nursing a severe knee injury, which occurred just four months after the Lionesses took home their Euro 2022 win.
She ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in November 2022 but returned to action one year later, making her first start for Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Brighton.
It was announced in February that she would lead a FIFA task force which will attempt to tackle the plague of knee injuriesaffecting the women's game.
Research suggests fatigue and loading is one of several risk factors and the Arsenal forward is working with FIFA alongside her team-mate and girlfriend Vivianne Miedema, who ruptured her ACL in 2022 - three weeks after Beth.
Vivianne, 27, is now back in action after returning to the game in January this year.
