In a touching show of royal support, Prince William has written a private letter to skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, commending her “courage” and “resilience” after her terrifying crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The future king, 43, was moved by Vonn’s decision to compete despite a torn ACL just days before the Games — and her devastating fall just 13 seconds into the women’s downhill final in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, which left her with multiple leg fractures and a dangerous case of compartment syndrome that doctors feared could lead to amputation.
Vonn revealed the contents of William’s letter in her new Vanity Fair interview. The prince wrote:
“The way you wrote about stepping into the starting gate with courage and no regrets says so much about your resilience and is one of the many reasons why you have been an inspiration to so many people throughout your illustrious career. I hope your recovery is as smooth and quick as possible in the months ahead.”
Clearly moved by the gesture, Vonn shared that she has offered to take Prince William, Princess Kate, and their children George, Charlotte, and Louis skiing once she has fully recovered.
“I offered to ski with him and his family if they ever want to. Maybe in a while, but at some point,” she said.
Skiing holds a special place in the Wales family’s life. William and Kate have enjoyed several private ski holidays together, including a recent quiet getaway to the exclusive French resort of Courchevel in February. The couple and their children have visited the Alps multiple times, with Kate particularly cherishing time in nature during her cancer recovery.
Along with the letter from Prince William, Vonn received supportive notes from other high-profile figures including David Beckham, tennis star Jannik Sinner, and NFL legend Tom Brady upon returning home to Park City, Utah, on March 1.
Vonn’s recovery has been intense: she underwent five surgeries, including an emergency fasciotomy performed in the middle of the night by Team USA physician Dr. Tom Hackett to save her leg. She has described the excruciating pain as “seared into my brain,” recalling screaming during a CT scan and waking up in agony despite heavy medication.
Now back in Utah, the 41-year-old is pushing through daily two-hour physiotherapy sessions, hyperbaric chamber treatments, and gym workouts. She recently shared a video of herself training, showing remarkable progress just weeks after the crash.
Despite the severity of her injuries, Vonn is keeping the door open for one more comeback.
“I don’t like to close the door on anything, because you just never know what’s going to happen,” she told Vanity Fair. “It’s hard to tell with this injury. It’s so f***ed up. I really feel like that was a horrible last run to end my career on. I only made it 13 seconds. But they were a really good 13 seconds.”
Prince William’s personal note adds a warm, human touch to Vonn’s long list of admirers. The skiing icon, who has inspired millions with her record-breaking career and relentless fighting spirit, continues to show the same grit in recovery that defined her on the slopes.
Fans are already hoping to see Vonn back on the mountain — possibly even sharing a run with British royalty one day.
