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 am not a fan of the monarchy, but am really annoyed by this- they’ve literally got one job, representing the country/commonwealth, and by not turning up to this important match did neither.

Waitie Katie? What do you mean by this @Mikimoto? What is she waiting for?

Presumably the Governor General is there - s/he represents the King in Australia.

Anyway it's only a football match and it wouldn't play well to fly somewhere when Canada is burning (which Willian is also the future King of - unless they decide to become a republic).

its an old nickname from when she was painted by the media (daily mail) as a lazy arse just hanging around waiting for PW to ask her to marry him.

It was a lazy and spiteful nick name then and completely irrelevant now.

Are you equally outraged that Lucy Frazer mp, minister for culture, media and sport is not there? She claims to promote football for all https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-invites-football-bodies-to-strengthen-collaboration

Do you know what you’re cross about? Are you even cross?

It's an outdated nickname from the long period when Kate was going out with William before their engagement. Based on the idea that her only function in life was waiting for William to marry her. The press coined it and used it extensively.

I’d say YANBU simply because if it was England men’s football team at the World Cup final William and possibly others would all be there, climate crisis be damned. I don’t give a flying fuck about the footy really and definitely not about the royal family but double standards annoy me.

Exactly my point. Using it makes @Mikimoto look ignorant, unintelligent and spiteful. A typical school bully.

They are grown adults and sports people. They should not need handholding. Looks like people getting their excuses in early if they lose today.

That said, royals’ PR advice is a disaster. William should’ve gone since it’s Australia:

It's got nothing to do with Prince William being a royal, or a man. It's got everything to do with him being the President of the FA.

Of course he should be there. Whether he's a man, a woman, a prince or a commoner. For the President of the FA not to be there to support women's football is a massive snub. And shows how far women still have to go to be accepted by the FA as equals.

And spiteful @Mikimoto is still using it. I imagine you are the worst of the school run mums @Mikimoto.

@budgiegirl, do you think Lucy Fraser, minister for culture, media and sport should be there? if not, why not? She claims to promote football for all https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-invites-football-bodies-to-strengthen-collaboration

Yup. I agree and it’s part of what makes this whole manufactured outrage so transparent.

Fwiw, sorry for teaching you to suck eggs. I’m getting used to accepting I’m of a certain age and there are adults about who genuinely won’t have come across this stuff. It sucks

I'm not sure, to be honest. I think she probably should be, but it depends if I would also expect her to be at a mens World Cup final. But I'm more bothered by the President of the FA not being there. What sort of message does that give? He'd definitely be there if it was the mens final, in my opinion.

I wouldn't imagine they give a toss really .

If there was someone there it would only be to jump on the hype bandwagon that's already in overdrive

@Whattheactualwhatnow are you as annoyed that Lucy Fraser, minister for culture, media and sport is not there? This is, after all, her job. Plus Parliament is not currently sitting, so she’s perfectly set to be there.

Lucy Frazer doesn’t get hundreds of millions of pounds from the taxpayer every year for her role, so I’m fine with that, cheers for asking.

That’s a good point, but not really the one all this outrage has rested on. I hadn’t considered that before, but in fairness it’s not really come up as the focus of the general shouting.

If they win it will not be a significant "historical moment", it will barely be a minor one. Womens football has not developed enough to be significant yet. It might one day but not yet. It also might be a flash in the pan, public interest might not increase or might even wane, and it doesnt develop any further.

It doesn't become significant just because mens football is, mens football is a more mature sport with both a much larger following and prolonged history.

v good point too.

Nope not in this house.

I know it’s an unpopular opinion but I feel like Meghan and Harry would have gone. It’s a real shame no one did.

But she does take a salary from the public purse following her own campaigning to represent the people of the county.

In a straight comparison between a royal and an MP I’d say an MP has more obligation to go (if anyone absolutely had to).

Imagine wanting to go to the football with Rishi Sunak or one of those weird royal freaks. That'd be so weird.

Honestly I think if a royal or whoever went they’d have been slated for making a short trip etc and environmental damage/cost so no not really. I think this was a situation they just couldn’t do right for doing wrong and it won’t affect the outcome.