William and women's football

[Nono22972]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12413893/amp/Prince-William-not-attend-World-Cup-final-watch-Englands-Lionesses-face-against-Spain.html

One again, William's neglecting women's football. The Lionesses made history. It is the first time that the English team (male or female) reached the World Cup final since 1966. We all know that if the men had reached the final, he would've been there and probably would've brought George with him.

Queen Letizia and her daughter Sofia will be attending. What's William's excuse? You are président of the Football Association.

This is really disappointing but I'm not really surprised. The young generation of royals are such a joke compared to previous generations. Yes, the Queen’s children had their controversies but when it comes to royal work, they always got the job done.

Both shorter flights & not just for 90 minutes (plus extra time) though

If he was going, would you have started a thread dissing him for just paying lip service to his 'green' credentials?

No, because that's what he's supposed to do. He barely supports women's football anyway. Him going to the the final is the least he could do

Yep. On holiday. Any reason why he should break that for a business trip? do you break your holiday for urgent work the other side of the world?

No, but unlike him, I don't have the luxury of taking a break whenever I want. Let's not forget that the Waleses were a no-show for over a month before the coronation, plus they never work when their kids are on school break.

If this role is too much for him, he should just give up the position and let someone who actually cares take over.

Yeah I love football but there's no WAY I want him to do that carbon footprint to go round the world for one match !

That's terrible !

Can’t get worked up over this at all. Flying to Australia for one football match seems excessive. He’ll have dozens of engagements he’d have to cancel.

And before I'm bashed and accused of being a H&M fan just hating on William, I'm not.
I actually like both William and Kate but I feel like too many people make excuses for their unprofessional behaviour.

Too many times, they carry out a couple of engagements a week then disappear for 10 days. They barely follow through on their projects, they don't seem really invested in their patronages. William has stepped up these past few years, Kate is another story

But there's always an excuse for them

I wonder if people in Spain are complaining their RF are flying out?

Yeah I love football but there's no WAY I want him to do that carbon footprint to go round the world for one match !

That's terrible !

Can’t get worked up over this at all. Flying to Australia for one football match seems excessive. He’ll have dozens of engagements he’d have to cancel.

It's not just about a football match. It's failing do his job. As I said, he should give up this position if the job is too much for him

If the roles of heir to the throne and patron of a sporting body and in conflict, perhaps the sporting body needs another patron.

King Felipe is not the President of the Spanish Football Association. I'm sure their president, Luis Rubiales will be there

Thé RF will have an event at the Palace, for the team, whatever the result. POW watching from home is sensible. The UK Ambassador will represent them.
There is a difference between Spain and England; Spain represents the whole of Spain, England represent just one part of the UK and the RF jetting of to watch England would infuriate the UK's other nations.

Princess Anne is the patron of the Scottish Rugby Union and has no problem going to watch them play on a regular basis despite the republican sentiment being on a rise in Scotland

I don’t think William’s royal status is relevant here. At least, it shouldn’t be.

The point is that he is the President of the FA, and all the England teams are organised by & represent the FA, so whoever is the figurehead of the organisation should attend major finals. If that isn’t the FA President’s job, then what is? And if William can’t, or doesn’t want to, do what the job entails he should resign and let someone who can actually do the job take over. David Beckham, perhaps?

Princess Anne is the patron of the Scottish Rugby Union and has no problem going to watch them play on a regular basis despite the republican sentiment being on a rise in Scotland

She attends home matches for the Scottish team - she’s not travelled to Australia to watch them.

While we’re considering rugby, no members of the Royal family attended the Rugby World Cup Final in 2003 (England won). Prince Harry did go to the finals in Paris in 2007 and Japan in 2019 (he was Patron of the RFU in 2019 but not in 2007).

While we’re considering rugby, no members of the Royal family attended the Rugby World Cup Final in 2003 (England won).

I thought William, Harry & Zara were all there, albeit as fans / mates of the players & not in any official capacity. Wasn’t that where Zara & Mike Tindall got together?

William and Kate have July and August off unless there is something like a film premiere they fancy. They won't be going anywhere.

They might also be worried about anti royal sentiment. Plenty of Australians who don't want a royal family as head of state.

Zara was definitely there - yes, that’s where they met. And having double checked it, you are correct about Harry, actually - he was also at the final. As a fan though, not in an official role.

And you are foolish if you think they will view the women's final as important as the men's.

If it was the mens final, William would have had the date in his diary years ago, just in case they made the final, he would have been there.

Because its the women's final he has no interest. Womens football isn't as important as men's football, it's just girls kicking a ball, they are not actual athletes like the men.

I agree with you OP.

Women's sports arent supported as much as men's sports in almost all areas (save gymnastics and swimming). It's cultural.

But also, I don't think they should be flying about whenever they feel like it. It should be for official business and their personal diaries should be updated to deploy them when they're needed, as patrons.

Regardless of whether their enjoying their 5th 10 week vacation of the year of or not.

• As Patrons, they should have something like a standardized aspect to their role, like always attending for season openers and finals.

This way, people know what to expect of them, their schedules can largely be arranged in advance, and people won't get upset about them flying (commercial only lol) to finals because that's their role.

It's totally unnecessary for him to fly to Australia for a 90min match.

Much more appropriate to do a video message and then hold a reception/event for them back home and also invite all their families.

Agree with PPs - he would have been bashed had he gone and most likely by the same posters.

He was at the Euros final with Charlotte last year to be fair.

he's on holiday.
im glad he's not going, would be terrible optics (earth shot)