Lionesses Triumph: No Bank Holiday Planned Despite Historic Euro 2025 Victory

England’s Lionesses have secured a historic victory, retaining their Euro 2025 title against world champions Spain in a nail-biting penalty shootout in Basel. However, Downing Street has confirmed there are no plans for a national bank holiday to commemorate the momentous achievement.

The triumphant team will be celebrated wiht a homecoming parade in central London on Tuesday. The event will feature an open-top bus tour culminating in a ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, honouring their remarkable success. This decision mirrors the government’s stance following England’s Euro 2022 win, when no bank holiday was declared.

In recognition of their “momentous achievement,” Downing Street will host a special reception for the Lionesses on Monday. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock are expected to lead the event.

The call for a bank holiday following major football successes is not unprecedented. England’s men’s team famously won the World Cup in 1966 without a subsequent public holiday, and the Lionesses’ 2022 Euro victory also did not result in an extra day off.

Sir Keir Starmer has previously expressed openness to a celebratory bank holiday for England’s football triumphs. He notably stated after the 2022 Euros win that the victory deserved “a proper day of party.” He reiterated this sentiment when the Lionesses reached the World Cup final in 2023, suggesting a bank holiday should be granted “if the Lionesses bring it home.”

The government’s consideration of an additional bank holiday likely takes into account the meaningful economic impact. Previous government modelling estimated the cost at £1.36 billion, with PwC suggesting a figure closer to £831 million.

Sir Keir witnessed England’s dramatic penalty shootout victory firsthand. After a 1-1 draw through 90 minutes and extra time, crucial spot-kick conversions from Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles, and Chloe Kelly, coupled with two vital saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, sealed the win for England.

Following the match, the Prime Minister hailed the team as “history makers,” commending their resilience and stating, “You dug deep when it mattered most and you’ve made the nation proud.”

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