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Chelsea defender Millie Bright was formally awarded her OBE by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Wednesday—an occasion she joked may have marked the first training session she has ever missed in her career.
The 32-year-old former Lionesses captain, who stepped away from international duty in October, had previously been unable to attend an investiture with William due to clashes in her schedule.
Earlier opportunities to collect the honour had coincided with match days or key preparation periods, including Champions League fixtures.
This time, the ceremony at the royal residence finally allowed Bright to officially receive her award, with her parents, grandmother, pregnant sister and agent all in attendance to share the moment.
Speaking to the Press Association at Windsor Castle, Bright reflected on choosing to prioritise the investiture over her usual club routine.
“I’ve had to miss training today, which I don’t think I’ve missed one session in my whole career so far,” she said.
“But I think, for the Royal Highness, I think I can miss a day’s training to receive this.”
The defender added that clashes in her schedule had repeatedly stopped her from attending earlier investiture ceremonies.
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She added that the timing had never worked in her favour, explaining that “it’s always fallen on a game day or the day before a match, and then I’m thinking, ‘ah, it’s the Champions League, it’s really important.’”
Bright also admitted that “I don’t feel like a fraud having OBE next to my name now that I’ve officially received it.”
According to the defender, Prince William—a well-known supporter of Aston Villa—showed a genuine interest in the women’s game during their conversation.
She revealed that the Prince asked when the transfer window closes and noted that he is “always looking for news in the women’s game.”
He also showed concern for her wellbeing, checking whether she was “well and healthy” after her recent knee issues, as Chelsea gears up for a particularly demanding run of fixtures.
Bright said she is convinced that Prince William “genuinely is a fan of the women’s game and has been a huge supporter of the Lionesses.”
She added: “In every tournament I’ve played in, he’s always wished us well and often come to see us before we’ve headed off.”
