Prince William: Knighthood for Sir Kevin Sinfield ‘easiest decision anyone’s had to make’

The Prince of Wales described the decision to award a knighthood to rugby league legend Sir Kevin Sinfield as “probably the easiest decision anyone’s ever had to make.” Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Prince William expressed his deep respect for Sinfield, who recently undertook the extraordinary feat of completing seven ultra marathons in seven consecutive days. This remarkable challenge was organized to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) charities, inspired by the illness that claimed the life of Sir Kevin’s close friend and former teammate, Rob Burrow, earlier in 2024.

Reflecting on Sir Kevin’s contributions, Prince William remarked, “I think frankly he should have been Sir Kevin years ago.” He emphasized Sinfield’s unique ability to unite communities, saying, “What Kevin does, is he can bind and glue communities together by being that leader. The more Kevs we have in this country the better.” The Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales visited Wakefield, West Yorkshire last month, witnessing firsthand the tremendous physical challenge of the ultramarathon series. They even surprised Sir Kevin during the third marathon, with Prince William commenting, “I don’t know how he keeps going, I’m worried about his knees, I’m worried about his hips. The guy is just a machine.”

Prince William also highlighted the humble and genuine nature of Sir Kevin, describing him as “a top bloke, really nice guy, good, honest, kind, decent northerner and I love that about Kevin, that there is no ego with him. He is what you get.” The relationship between Sir Kevin and Rob Burrow took on a wider significance after Burrow’s MND diagnosis, transforming from teammates into advocates for awareness and fundraising. Sir Kevin played a vital role in supporting Rob and his family throughout the disease’s progression, quietly leading efforts to aid the MND community. The prince noted, “That lack of ego is really important in a world that everyone wants to show how amazing they all are… Kevin does it very quietly very subtly.”

In a more personal reflection, Prince William spoke about writing to Rob Burrow’s wife and children following Burrow’s passing, expressing admiration for Lindsey Burrow’s quiet strength. He shared insights on grief, saying, “Everyone grieves differently and every circumstance is different so you need to take your time over it. It’s always better to say something around grief than it is to ignore it.” Earlier, the prince had also attended the opening of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, a facility dedicated to patient care and MND research. “It was very emotional actually and, for me, doing personal, emotional work is more fulfilling,” he said. Prince William further paid tribute to other prominent MND advocates, including the late Scottish rugby union player Doddie Weir and his aunt, Princess Royal Anne, recognizing their longstanding commitment to the cause. The Prince concluded his remarks by praising Sir Kevin’s remarkable character, calling him “gold dust” and acknowledging the immense value he brings to the community

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