To feel bad for the Lionesses ?

[whatdidshedotogetahillnamedafterher]

Whether footy minded or not I cannot help but feel bad for the Lionesses today with no person of note to support them. The Spanish Queen can go.It feels like an own goal to me letting the Ladies down. Not a good look for our country I think.What do you think?

I don’t think that the lionesses care at all if Prince William/Rishi Sunak etc are there or not. We are seriously kidding ourselves though if we think for one second that they wouldn’t be there if it was the men in the World Cup final.

I read this morning that as King Charles is head of state for Australia and has not yet been to visit (delay in the Australian invitation) that constitutionally his heir is not allowed to visit before him. Might explain why William isn't there.

Not sure if its true but as King Charles is king of Australia, he has to visit the country first, as New king. Thats why William hasnt got.

That makes sense.

I think it’s a great shame that our fabulous Lionesses are not being supported either by the royal family nor our PM. Sorry but if it was the men in the final they’d all be there.
Good luck girls!

I think Prince William’s decision was well considered and the right one, not least because he is going to a climate summit shortly. I read some thing about King Charles needing to make a state visit before he does too.

And the men haven’t been in a final since 1966 and that was here, so I really don’t know what they would have done in that scenario anyway. No Royal attended the Men’s Rugby WC final in Sydney in 2003 and only a fairly junior member of government went.

I don't think you can demand the equivalent attention to men's football which has had a century plus to evolve a history and culture that resonates around the world. Women's football is in an entirely different place and will increase its audience and status in sport as time goes on.

I agree. Had this been the mens final nothing would have stopped them being represented and supported by everyone and their dog.They wouldnt have been unable to get there fast enough. It just smacks of double standards to me. I feel its very disappointing.

I would imagine someone like Zara May go.

Wasn't her husband part of the winning rugby team in sane station?

(Clearly they haven't gone but would be logistically easier and less controversial)

The whole country is supporting them!

Why would she go just because her husband won a rugby match in the same country? That's strange logic.

I can't imagine that he would have not been there if it was a men's final. However, as a rabid republican I'm of the mind that this is just evidence of the pointlessness of the royal family 🤷‍♀️

Oh mostly this. Well said.

I think we probably should demand the same attention. Women's football in the UK was in a great place and hugely popular prior to being banned in 1921.

Imagine where the sport would be if it had been allowed to continue its tragectory. Crowds of 50,000 plus in 1920!

3 mins to go ..Cannot imagine how the ladies are feeling. The butterflies in my tummy would be doing overtime and I would need the loo!! I wish them all the very best. So proud of what they have achieved up to now for themselves. Go Lionesses...

I love that Billie Jean King is there and popped down to introduce herself to Serena.

As Zara is the more sport one and I I thought it would be an enjoyable trip /holiday for her and her husband who I think got together in Australia too? And recently went for I am a celebrity.

So royals showing their support without it becoming official.

This 100%.

But only men are worth supporting, y'know

The expense of flying a member of the Royal Family to Australia, probably on a private plane, transporting them to the stadium with all of the required security detail that will entail, and then flying them back again, would be astronomical. Probably c. £100k. Not to mention the fact that Prince William also heads the Earthshot Prize and is a patron of several climate/environmental causes. Flying to Australia for a football match would make him out to be a terrible hypocrite and would not be good PR for the organisations he champions.

These sorts of decisions are not taken lightly by public figures and need to be carefully balanced against a range of factors. The expense, the security concerns and wider conflicts against other commitments and patronages will have all been factored in and the decision will have been made by the Palace - not necessarily by William himself - that the risks/costs outweighed any benefit of him being there. Personally I think it's the right decision at a time of a cost of living crisis and the world literally burning down around us.

Plus, as has already been excellently said, let's not make a wonderful achievement by a group of amazing women who have fought against so much prejudice about whether an important man is going to be there to watch them or not. The women's football team do not need the presence of a prominent man to legitimise them or their achievement. They are enough.

@EnidSpyton
Indeed they are enough.

I am pretty disgusted with the RF that they haven't made the effort to go.

I also think there is a general apathy about this. We are in a marina and within walking distance of a bar and two pubs ( fairly remote) and no one is showing the match. The bar is deserted - it's a lovely day and they could be raking it in! Surely they could have found a screen from somewhere and show the biggest match since 1966! Everyone is desperately trying to watch with bad signal on the phones and I pads!

Did a member of the Royal Family go and watch the English Roses when they were in the final of the Rugby World Cup last year I've searched but can't seem to find out

I really, really don't care.

It's only a game and people are behaving as though it's important. It isn't to most of us.

Any excuse.