Prince William has shared a heartfelt tribute following the tragic death of footballer Diogo Jota and his brother in a car crash in Spain earlier today.
Taking to social media in his role as patron of the Football Association, the Prince of Wales expressed his sorrow at the devastating news. In a personal message signed with his initial, he wrote:
"As part of the footballing family, I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him. LFC Wolves. W"
The "W" at the end of the post signifies that the message was written personally by Prince William, rather than by a member of his team, and was shared on the social media account he and Princess Kate use jointly.
Jota, a beloved figure at Liverpool FC and formerly of Wolves, was just 28.
He was driving through the province of Zamora when the accident occurred shortly after midnight.
According to Spain’s Guardia Civil, the vehicle a Lamborghini veered off the road in the municipality of Cernadilla due to a sudden tyre blowout while overtaking.
In a statement shared with the BBC, the Guardia Civil confirmed, "The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.
It was in the early hours, 00:30 BST, in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora."
The devastating news has sent shockwaves through the global football community, with tributes pouring in from fans, teammates, and sports legends alike.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo have both shared emotional messages honouring the late footballer.