The Prince of Wales has said Sir Kevin Sinfield should have been knighted years ago, praising the former rugby league player’s fundraising for motor neurone disease charities after he completed seven ultramarathons in seven days.

William said awarding the knighthood “was probably the easiest decision anyone's ever had to make”. His remarks recognised both Sir Kevin’s endurance challenges and his support for his friend and former team-mate Rob Burrow, who died from the condition in 2024.

Burrow’s diagnosis turned a sporting friendship into a public campaign to raise awareness of MND. Sir Kevin supported him and his family as the disease progressed, becoming an important fundraiser for the wider MND community.

For William, Sir Kevin’s contribution extends beyond the distances he runs. “What Kevin does, is he can bind and glue communities together by being that leader. The more Kevs we have in this country the better.”

The prince praised his kindness and lack of ego, contrasting his quiet approach with the desire for public recognition. He also expressed amazement at Sir Kevin’s physical resilience, saying he worried about his knees and hips.

William and Catherine saw part of the latest challenge in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, last month, surprising Sir Kevin as he completed the third ultramarathon.

The prince also discussed writing to Burrow’s wife, Lindsey, and their children, Macy, Maya and Jackson, after his death. He said he admired Lindsey’s quiet dignity and had written both as a member of the Royal Family and as someone who understood the anguish of losing a parent.

“Everyone grieves differently and every circumstance is different so you need to take your time over it,” he said. “It's always better to say something around grief than it is to ignore it.”

In November last year, William joined the family to open the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds. The centre provides medical and holistic patient care alongside research. He described the opening as emotional and said honouring the family’s invitation had been personally important.

William also praised Scottish rugby union player Doddie Weir, who raised awareness of MND before his death in 2022, and the Princess Royal’s longstanding support for the MND community.