You're all right, Jack, the country is rooting for England

ENGLAND today jetted off to the World Cup in Qatar on a plane called “Rain Bow” in a gesture of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community — after Prince William told them the nation is “rooting for you”.

- Anthony France and Robert Jobson

Fans cheered and waved flags as the players arrived at Heathrow to board the Virgin Atlantic flight, which was also decorated with a cartoon figure in rainbow-themed trainers and has a call sign of GV-PRD, an abbreviation of “Pride”.

The World Cup kicks off on Sunday but the build-up has focused on Qatar’s strict laws where same-sex couples can be punished by up to seven years in prison or even face the death penalty.

It came after William presented the squad with their jersey numbers during a morale-boosting visit to St George’s Park training ground in Staffordshire last night.

He posed for pictures with manager Gareth Southgate, skipper Harry Kane and players Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and James Maddison.

The prince, who is not expected to travel to the Middle East unless England make the final, was later seen with his arm around Jack Grealish.