Prince William: knighting Kevin Sinfield was 'the easiest decision'

Knighthood 'the easiest decision'

Prince William told BBC Breakfast that awarding a knighthood to rugby league star Sir Kevin Sinfield was 'probably the easiest decision anyone has ever had to make'. He said that 'honestly, he should have been Sir Kevin years ago'. The investiture ceremony took place at Windsor Castle in October 2026, where the Prince of Wales made Sinfield a knight bachelor.

Seven ultramarathons in Burrow's memory

Sinfield recently completed his latest charity challenge — seven ultramarathons in seven days — in support of charities fighting motor neurone disease (MND). It was dedicated to the memory of his friend and former teammate Rob Burrow, who died of the disease in 2024. Burrow's diagnosis turned the teammates' relationship into a public campaign to raise awareness of the disease: Sinfield supported Rob and his family and became one of the key fundraisers for the MND community.

The dukes' surprise visit and praise for the 'machine'

In September, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Wakefield in West Yorkshire to see for themselves how gruelling the challenge was: William and Catherine met Sinfield unexpectedly as he finished the third of the marathons. 'I don't understand how he keeps running — I worry about his knees, his hips. This guy is just a machine', Prince William said in a BBC interview. He also noted Sinfield's lack of vanity: 'He is what he is'.

The Rob Burrow Centre and words about grief

Last November, Prince William officially opened the Rob Burrow Motor Neurone Disease Centre at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds together with the Burrow family. The centre provides medical and holistic care for patients, as well as research into the disease. The Prince called the opening 'a very personal and important' moment, noting that 'the circle has been closed'. He also said that after Rob's death he wrote to his widow Lindsey and their children — Macy, Maya and Jackson — and admired how quietly and with what dignity Lindsey was coping with the loss. 'It is always better to say something about grief than to ignore it', he stressed.

Other names in the fight against MND

In the same interview, the Prince praised Scottish rugby player Doddie Weir, who did much to raise awareness of MND before his death from the disease in 2022, as well as his aunt — Princess Anne, who has supported the MND community for many years. The story of Sinfield and Burrow forms the basis of the programme 'Thank You Sir Kev', which airs on Monday, 26 October, on BBC One at 20:00 and will be available on iPlayer.

Why it matters

The story of Sinfield and Burrow shows how a personal friendship grew into a lasting support system: thanks to their campaigns, a specialised centre for MND patients has opened in Leeds, combining treatment and research. For thousands of families facing the disease, it means access to specialist care, and for charities it means an influx of funds and attention after each of Sinfield's new marathon challenges. The knighthood cements the initiative's public standing and, judging by the Prince of Wales's words, royal support at the highest level.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Phil Noble/PA Wire