The Prince and Princess of Wales are traveling to France this weekend to attend the Rugby World Cup – after William fell out over his decision to disallow the Lionesses’ World Cup final last month.
Kate Middleton, 41, will attend a group game between England and Argentina at the Stade de Marseille on Saturday in her role as a patron of the Rugby Football Union.
Meanwhile Prince William, 41, who is a patron of the Welsh Rugby Union will see Wales play Fiji at the Stade de Bordeaux on Sunday.
It comes weeks after the prince, who is president of the football association and therefore responsible for promoting the game nationally and internationally, chose not to attend the World Cup final, which saw England play Spain in Australia.
The cost of the trip and the carbon footprint were cited as reasons for the prince not to go.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are traveling to France this weekend to attend the Rugby World Cup – after William fell out over his decision to disallow the Lionesses World Cup final last month
It comes weeks after the Prince, who is president of the Football Association and therefore responsible for promoting the game nationally and internationally, chose not to attend the World Cup final, which saw England play Spain in Australia.
Palace sources said it could be considered tactless for William to return for the first time in nearly a decade to publicly cheer England in the final, kicking Australia out of the tournament to get there.
A source told the Mail: “It was a balanced decision. The Prince of Wales hasn’t visited since 2014, so he’d like his next trip to Australia to be a substantial visit.
“He met them (the Lionesses) in St George’s Park before they left and he supported them throughout the tournament by sending private messages of good luck to the manager and team.”
But critics turned against the prince when the government frantically sent Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to Sydney to support Sarina Wiegman’s side.
Mandu Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, told MailOnline: ‘It is completely ridiculous that England were not and still are not ready to celebrate the Women’s World Cup final.
“The Football Association’s president, Prince William, has not bothered to attend, licensing laws have not been relaxed, there will be no screen in Trafalgar Square and no word of a big celebration if they win. .
“This last-minute struggle to show support for the Lionesses by our leaders is not only shameful, it shows how little they think about women’s sport.
“You can guarantee that in no way will the men’s soccer team be treated with such contempt and disrespect.”
Before the final, Prince William wished the Lionesses good luck in a video posted on the social media account of the Prince and Princess of Wales along with his daughter Princess Charlotte, who had a football match in hand.
Kate Middleton, 41, will attend a group game between England and Argentina, while Prince William, 41, will watch Wales play against Fiji (pictured during rugby in February)
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was also absent due to “existing government business commitments” but will “cheer on the lionesses from Yorkshire,” a source said.
Labor MP Kate Osborne told Times Radio: “We all know that if this was the men’s final, Sunak and the FA president, Prince William, would be there no matter how long the flight to Australia is.”
Gerry Sutcliffe, who was Gordon Brown’s minister of sport between 2007 and 2010, told the Telegraph: ‘I think the Prince of Wales should be there.
“I know it’s a long road and I’m sure he has family obligations, but this is a unique moment: it’s the World Cup final.”
Neither William nor Mr Sunak attended England’s men’s World Cup matches in Qatar last winter.
The row intensified, however, when the Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed that Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter, Infanta Sofia, would be in Sydney “to once again demonstrate the Royal Household’s support for national football.”
The pair sat in the presidential box at the Accor Stadium, but were not joined by King Felipe, who is busy with other official duties.
Letizia visited the Spanish team in Madrid before they traveled to the tournament, where they trained and were presented with a personalized shirt.
She concluded the visit with “a motivational speech that resonated deeply with the players and coaching staff,” the association said.
FA chief Mark Bullingham said bosses had always known William would not be attending but that he had been “a brilliant supporter of the team all along”.
Before the final, Prince William wished the Lionesses good luck along with his daughter Princess Charlotte, who was holding a football, in a video posted on the social media account of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
William said, “Lionesses, I want to send you good luck for tomorrow.
“We’re sorry we can’t be there in person, but we’re so proud of all you’ve accomplished and the millions you’ve inspired here and around the world. So go there tomorrow and really enjoy yourself.’
A beaming Charlotte, dressed in shorts and t-shirt, added, “Good luck Lionesses!”
The decision for the couple to attend the matches in France comes after enjoying a summer holiday in Balmoral with the royal family.
They attended church with other family members as the royal family enjoyed their first summer holiday at the estate since the Queen’s death there a year ago.
Sitting next to Prince William on his way to church on Sunday, Prince Andrew seemed well and truly back in the royal fold. The disgraced duke, 63, was driven to church by the future king, whose wife Catherine was in the back seat.
Experts say Prince Andrew’s appearance in a car with William and Kate as the family traveled to church in Balmoral was a “public declaration of togetherness” but there is “no possibility” of him returning to royal duties.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline that the photos of Prince Andrew traveling to church with the Welsh were “clearly intended to send a message of unity in the family.”
But he insisted this was not a sign that Andrew could return to public duties in any shape or form.
“This is a sad time for the Royal Family on their usual break at Balmoral. She and the nation will soon commemorate a year since the Queen’s death,” Fitzwilliams said.
“We know how close Andrew was to the late Queen. His performance at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Memorial Service in March 2022, where he physically supported her while she gave him emotional and financial support, caused much controversy.
“It has been reported that his allowance has been reduced. His tenure at Royal Lodge in Windsor, his home, was rumored to be in jeopardy.
“He is also reportedly seeking to regain the police protection he lost when he stepped down from his royal duties.”
But Mr Fitzwilliams added: ‘It is important to stress that there is no possibility, as King Charles and Prince William have always realised, of him returning to public duties in any form.
A look at his non-existent popularity numbers in the polls makes the public mood on this issue very clear.
What is emphasized however is harmony on a personal level and it is clear that he and his immediate family, who are also with Balmoral, will appreciate this very much, especially as the photos we see today are such a very public statement of togetherness. are.’