(Image: Mike Egerton)
The Prince and Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance during the latest stage of Sir Kevin Sinfield’s final endurance challenge.
They met the rugby league legend at Wakefield’s DIY Kitchens Stadium as he completed day three of his 7 in 7: The Grand Finale challenge, which involves running an ultra marathon every day for seven days to raise funds for motor neurone disease (MND) charities.
Sir Kevin’s fundraising efforts are inspired by his close friend and former teammate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with MND for four and a half years.
The Princess of Wales told Sir Kevin: "What you’re doing is so inspiring – the unity that you’re building."
The Prince of Wales encouraged him to keep going, saying: "Make sure you hold yourself together for another few days."
Sir Kevin admitted to the royal couple that he had been dreaming of an ice bath all day.
The Prince later told club officials: "The rugby league family is very special.
"We’re all thinking about Rob all the time."
Members of Rob Burrow’s family, including his children Macy, Maya, and Jackson, were also present at Wakefield Trinity’s stadium to greet Sir Kevin.
The Prince and Princess spoke with families affected by MND, including Mandy and Paul Attack.
The Prince joked: "I’ve been dreading the moment Kev asked me – ‘Sorry Kev, I’ve got a busy diary.’
"This might be his last challenge so I might have missed it."
He told another group: "I can’t do Lycra."
On the pitch, Sir Kevin asked if the Prince "fancied a bit of a run," to which the Prince jokingly pretended not to hear, saying: "There’s something in my ear."
He described Sir Kevin’s efforts as "monumental," adding: "He’s got to be bionic.
"By the time he’s finished all this, he’s got to have been rebuilt."
Since starting his fundraising in 2020, Sir Kevin and his team have raised more than £11 million for the MND community.
Six charities will benefit from this year’s challenge: the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland, and the Irish MND Association.
Each daily ultra marathon is broken into seven-kilometre segments, each to be completed within an hour.
Sir Kevin began the challenge in Hull on Sunday, with the final leg finishing at Old Trafford ahead of the Super League Grand Final.
His son Jack is expected to play for Wakefield against Warrington in the final.
As they departed, the royal couple were given framed photos of previous royal visits to Wakefield Trinity.
The Prince remarked that this Saturday’s Grand Final could be the club’s first major win in 63 years.
He also met rugby league legend Neil Fox, who still holds the sport’s all-time points scoring record.
Sir Kevin became visibly emotional as he addressed the crowd in Wakefield.
He said: "Prince William and Princess Kate, you’ve been such big supporters of what we’ve been trying to do.
"And such big supporters of Rob and Lindsey [Burrow’s wife] and the Burrow family.
"To have you here today is incredible and brings real credibility and awareness to the MND community."