'I used to laugh when you said you'd be England captain one day': Harry Kane's 'proud' wife Katie pens letter to the footballer ahead of Euro 2020 showdown against Italy
Harry Kane's wife Kate has penned an emotional letter to her husband telling him 'you're making us all proud' ahead of the Euro 2020 final against Italy tomorrow.
Affectionately referring to him as 'H', the 28-year-old recalled her childhood years with Harry, 27, and hailed him as 'an amazing husband and dad'.
She shared the touching tribute on Instagram alongside a series of photos showing their three children, her blowing a kiss towards a poster of Harry and the footballer playing with their dog in the garden.
Explaining she wasn't 'one to cry easily', Kate signed off the letter by telling him that he 'deserves to lift that trophy' and to 'bring it home for the country'.
The England captain's wife has been holding the fort at home and was finally reunited with Harry - albeit at a distance - at Wembley stadium on Wednesday night.
She shared a selfie of her and her husband smiling at the camera while separated by a giant banner, writing: 'Kane you believe it.'
The letter comes as Gareth Southgate rallies 35million fans ahead of the final by saying that England should not be ashamed of its history and praising his squad's role in driving 'tolerance and inclusion'.
Meanwhile, the players appeared to be in a relaxed mood after they were put through their final paces in an open training session today.
England's men's football team are now just one historic win away from their first major silverware since 1966 after their 2-1 triumph over Denmark earlier this week.
Kate Kane, 28, has been holding the fort at home and was finally reunited with 27-year-old Harry (pictured above) - albeit at a distance - at Wembley stadium on Wednesday night
Explaining she wasn't 'one to cry easily', Kate signed off the letter by telling him that he 'deserves to lift that trophy' and to 'bring it home for the country'
Kate pictured blowing a kiss towards a poster of Harry in one of the series of photos that accompanied her Instagram post and emotional letter
The footballer seen playing with their dog in the garden in a photo which accompanied the post. The England captain's wife has been holding the fort at home
'England has so much to be proud of': Gareth Southgate's quotes in full ahead of Euros final
'We have so many things here that we should be proud of that we probably underestimate that.
'We are always looking at the negatives of our own country and yet we have got so much to be proud of and so much talent coming through in all industries really.
'For an island our size we've got an incredible influence on the world and we've got to keep that in a positive way.
'There are historic things that we should be proud of. We've had unbelievable inventions in this country.
'People have tried to invade us and we've had the courage to hold that back.
'You can't hide that some of the energy in the stadium against Germany was because of that. I never mentioned that to the players, but I know that's part of what that story was.
'At heart I go back to the values that my parents gave me and treating people as you would want to be treated. Just respectful, really.
'There are positive things that we could help to change or influence in society.
'The longer I've been in the role the more I've understood the importance for our fans of that connection with the team.
'They felt part of it and that inclusivity is really important to us because I think that's what modern England is.
'We know it hasn't always been the case and there's historic reasons for that, but that level of tolerance and inclusion is what we have to be about moving forward.'
Mother-of-three Kate began by writing: 'H, you know I am not one to cry too easily but I found myself in tears when I started writing down how proud you're making us all and what you're doing for the country.
'I use to laugh at you when we started going out and you'd be round at mine playing penalties with my brother Tom and Seamus the dog, and you'd say you would be England captain one day.
'But that's you - you set yourself a goal and you achieve it and you always said you were going to the Euros to get to the final.'
She continued: 'You're such an amazing husband and dad and the children can't wait to have you home.
'Imagine telling them all about this summer one day when they're a bit older. We all love you so much, Skipper.
'Bring it home for the country, you deserve to lift that trophy with this incredible England team!'
The moment after England's semi-final triumph in which Harry scored the winner is the closest contact the couple have had in five weeks due to strict Covid protocols.
Off the pitch, players at Euro 2020 must not have contact with anyone outside their team bubble.
That meant the Kane's were unable to be together to celebrate their second wedding anniversary on June 19.
Kate has attended every England match except the quarter-final against Ukraine, which was played in Rome, Italy.
The couple are childhood sweethearts and have been together since 2012 and are parents to two daughters, Ivy and Vivienne Jane, and son Louis Harry.
The former fitness instructor has been cheering from the sidelines throughout the Euros 2021 tournament.
During the tournament, she has shared snaps of their three children, including one showing them in full England kit with 'Daddy' and his number, 9, printed on their backs.
Harry Maguire's fiancee Fern Hawkins also posted an image of the giant banner on Wednesday, showing it separating her from the central defender.
She wrote on Instagram: 'The closest I've been to you in five weeks, but getting to the finals makes it all worthwhile. BRING IT HOME BABY'.
Others to post messages of support on social media included Jordan Pickford's fiancee Megan Davison and Kalvin Phillips' long-term girlfriend Ashleigh Behan.
The moment after England's semi-final triumph in which Harry scored the winner is the closest contact the couple (seen left and right, in 2019) have had in five weeks due to Covid protocol
A young Harry Kane and his future fiancee Kate Goodland pictured with David Beckham when he visited pupils from his old school in London in March 2005
Kate previously shared a sweet snap on Instagram of their three children wearing their dad's football strip ahead of the England v Germany game
Following England's semi-final victory, the Wags, their families and the players' families celebrated into the early hours at an after-party at the Hilton hotel next to the stadium.
Conor Coady's wife Amie shared images of the evening showing guests singing the team's Three Lions anthem and a large screen in the background reading: 'Congratulations England. Let's make history.'
Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate has urged the nation to 'stop looking at the negatives of our own country' because 'England has so much to be proud of'.
Britons tuning into tomorrow night's clash are armed with the fervent hope that Harry will follow in the golden footsteps of Bobby Moore and lead England to glory by breaking the country's 55-year trophy drought.
Some fans have even covered their entire house in St George's flags and Three Lions memorabilia ahead of the highly anticipated match.
Benny Elcock, 59, from York, said he has 'gone a bit mad' with the decorations, but he has done the same for every major football tournament for decades.
Gareth Southgate (pictured today) as urged the nation to 'stop looking at the negatives of our own country' because 'England has so much to be proud of' ahead of the Euro 2020 final tomorrow night
The players appeared to be in a relaxed mood after they were put through their final paces in an open training session on Saturday
Harry Maguire afforded himself a smile before getting down to work at St George's Park
He looks set to partner John Stones in defence while Kieran Trippier is also an option
In Wembley itself, almost 70,000 fans will erupt into a cauldron of noise for the epic clash tomorrow, which kicks off at 8pm.
Southgate's England team has been hailed for its social conscience which has seen squad members saluted for taking the knee against racism, making a stand on donating to the NHS, and taking the fight for free school means to Downing Street.
But as well as acknowledging a forward-looking nation, Southgate - whose grandfather saw service in the Second World War - is keen to hail its history and values.
The England manager said: 'We have so many things here that we should be proud of that we probably underestimate that.
'We are always looking at the negatives of our own country and yet we have got so much to be proud of and so much talent coming through in all industries really.'
He added: 'For an island our size we've got an incredible influence on the world and we've got to keep that in a positive way.
'There are historic things that we should be proud of. We've had unbelievable inventions in this country.'