No 10 is considering awards for England’s female footballers for reaching the World Cup final, as Labour called for the whole team to get honours.
Downing Street said it would find a way to reward the players after they lost 0-1 in the final to Spain in Australia on Sunday.
A spokesperson said the government would be looking at how to celebrate “properly when the time is right and in a way that the team would like”.
Last year, Boris Johnson was criticised for failing to hold a reception for the team in No 10 after their European Championship victory.
Asked about honours for the team, No 10 said it would find “an appropriate way of marking the incredible performance of the entire squad”.
Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, was more forthright in calling for the whole team to get honours.
“The Lionesses have galvanised the whole nation through their historic achievement in becoming the first England team to make the World Cup final,” he said.
“But they’ve also inspired a generation of women and girls to play football, take up sport, and to remove any doubt in their minds that they too can go all the way in their chosen field.
“There’s no doubt that they should be recognised by the honours system.”
Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch coach of the Lionesses, was made an honorary CBE in the new year honours list, while the then captain, Leah Williamson, was made an OBE and teammates Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Ellen White received MBEs. Williamson and Mead are out injured, while White has retired.
Before the final, there had been speculation that Wiegman could get an honorary damehood if the team were to win, with big honours for captain Millie Bright, goalkeeper Mary Earps and other star players. However, sources said there was still likely to be recognition of some kind for the players in the next honours list.
Sunak watched the match in Australia from a pub in his North Yorkshire constituency but he and the Prince of Wales have faced criticism from some quarters over their reluctance to get on a plane to support the England team in person.
William was absent from Stadium Australia on Sunday despite being president of the Football Association, and is understood to have made the decision not to go because of the long flight involved for such a short period of time.
William apologised to the Lionesses for not being there in a video message posted on social media on Saturday. Joined by his daughter, Princess Charlotte, who was clutching a football, he said: “Lionesses, we want to send you a huge good luck for tomorrow, we’re sorry we can’t be there in person but we’re so proud of everything you’ve achieved and the millions you’ve inspired here and around the world.”
King Charles urged the Lionesses to “roar to victory”, with him and the Queen staying in Birkhall in Aberdeenshire, where they are on a summer break. They appeared not to be watching the game 30 minutes after kick-off as they were seen heading to church at Crathie Kirk in Balmoral.
Some have been vocal in their criticism that no senior royals or the prime minister were there for England’s first World Cup final since 1966, believing there should be top-level representation at such a national moment.
The UK government initially said it would send Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, but James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, said several days ago that he would also attend. Cleverly was in the presentation lineup for the World Cup representing the government.
Frazer spoke of how proud she was of the team, saying: “They inspired millions across the country with glorious performances, moments of magic and relentless determination and desire.
“An incredible journey has come to an end but it will never be forgotten.”
She also defended Prince William for staying in the UK, saying: “You’ll have seen he’s apologised for being unable to come but I know that he’s backing the England team. I know he wants the Lionesses to come … and I’m sure he’ll be celebrating with them whether they win or lose, you know, after the match today.
“The Prince of Wales does a massive amount for sport. He’s the president of the FA.
“Not just this sport, I was at Wimbledon a few weeks ago and both him and the Princess of Wales were there. I think they do a tremendous amount for the country and I know that he’s backing the Lionesses.”
The government had rejected the idea of a bank holiday in the event of a victory by the Lionesses.
However, the FA is looking at a statue to honour them in Wembley, which was first planned after their Euro 2022 success.
