PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Where's a flunkey when you need one? Disappointed #Prince William stows his own bag as he flies Club Class home with #England fans... but did anyone remember to wish him happy birthday?

It was a long, depressing night for England fans in St Etienne – and Prince William was no exception.

The Duke of Cambridge, despite celebrating his birthday today, looked weary and disappointed as he struggled to stow his luggage in the overhead locker on a flight home with other England fans.

The 34-year-old FA president was whisked onto the BA flight from Lyon to Heathrow just minutes before take-off this morning - then promptly nodded off.

Passenger James, who was sat behind Wills in BA's Club World Class, said: ‘We were all tired after being put through a roller coaster of emotions so I don’t blame him for falling asleep.'

On landing at 10.36am, William was escorted off the flight first and taken to a waiting black Range Rover parked on the tarmac. He is said to be celebrating his birthday privately today with Kate, Prince George, who is nearly three, and Princess Charlotte, aged one.

England fan James, who did not want to give his surname, told MailOnline: ‘Everyone was on the plane and suddenly Prince William got on and sat in the front.

‘We knew something was going on because all these security guards got on board.

‘Then, at the last minute, William appeared at the front and put his own black sports bag in the overhead locker.

‘Almost as soon as he sat down I think he fell asleep because he put his head back and seemed to doze off.

 Almost as soon as he sat down I think he fell asleep because he put his head back and seemed to doze off.
‘He didn’t eat or drink anything, no snacks or peanuts on offer because he nodded straight off. He wasn’t offered anything.

‘He was sat in BA's Club World Class right at the front two rows in front of me.’

James, 36, from London, in the crowd at last night’s 0-0 draw with Slovakia, went on: ‘He was clearly shattered after all the excitement from last night’s match.

‘We were all tired after being put through a roller coaster of emotions so I don’t blame him for falling asleep.

‘He didn’t say anything about the game and how disappointed we all are,’ he added.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace said he would not comment on individual photos, adding that the Duke was going about his private business despite being on a public flight.


The Duke was inside the 41,000 capacity Stade Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in St Etienne for a night of high drama as England failed to beat Slovakia to finish second in Group B.

In a smart blue suit, the Duke, an Aston Villa fan, sang the national anthem and sat next to Football Association chairman Greg Dyke.

He grimaced as goal attempts from England striker Jamie Vardy and Adam Lallana were saved by the Slovakian goalkeeper.


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