Prince William declares Kevin Sinfield ‘should have been made a Sir years ago’

Sir Kevin, who has generated millions in charitable donations, was knighted in recognition of his work for the motor neurone disease community and his contributions to both rugby league and union.

William expressed admiration for the 46-year-old’s remarkable stamina and character, saying: “I don’t know how he keeps going, I’m worried about his knees, I’m worried about his hips. The guy is just a machine.”

The prince continued to tell BBC Breakfast: “He’s a top bloke, really nice guy, good, honest, kind, decent northerner and I love that about Kevin, that there is no ego with him. He is what you get.”

The honour follows Sir Kevin’s gruelling series of fundraising challenges, the most recent being his final 7 in 7 event, which required him to complete an ultra-marathon on each of seven consecutive days.

During that endeavour, William and the Princess of Wales made an unexpected appearance in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, turning up to support Sir Kevin as he finished the third day of the challenge.

The extraordinary fundraising efforts were driven by Sir Kevin’s bond with his late Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow, who passed away in 2024 following a four-and-a-half-year battle with motor neurone disease.

Mr Burrow’s diagnosis had galvanised Sir Kevin into action, ultimately inspiring a campaign that has raised millions for the MND community.

William also revealed that he had written to the Burrow family in the wake of Mr Burrow’s death, offering his thoughts on the grieving process.

“Everyone grieves differently and every circumstance is different, so you need to take your time over it,” the Prince said.

He stressed the importance of reaching out to those who are mourning rather than staying silent, stating: “It’s always better to say something around grief than it is to ignore it.”

The remarks reflect William’s broader willingness to speak openly about loss, a subject he has addressed publicly on numerous occasions.

His connection to the Burrow family extends back to 2024, when he personally presented both Sir Kevin and Rob Burrow with CBEs during a ceremony at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.

Sir Kevin described himself as “massively humbled by the whole experience” and said he was “very proud to accept it on behalf of the MND community and their families”.

The rugby coach praised the royal couple’s sustained engagement with the cause, saying: “I think he champions pulling communities together and I have seen how the MND community have come together on the back of Rob’s diagnosis and several other high-profile sportspeople over the last six or seven years.”

He went on to acknowledge the contribution of both William and Catherine, saying: “So, his support and, obviously, Princess Catherine’s as well, they’ve been wonderful and bring a real credibility to what we’re trying to do.”

William’s backing of the campaign, Sir Kevin noted, had been “fantastically supportive” throughout.