Why wasn’t any member of the RF present at the women’s rugby World Cup final yesterday?

[Dustyhem952]

Honestly, I think it was a disgrace!

And an insult to our female players! And the entire team who worked so hard to get to be champions!

If the England’s men’s team had reached the final of the the World Cup, against a Commonwealth country no less, I bet someone would have turned up!

No doubt the team members will be invited to Windsor at some point but I think it’s a huge mid-step that no member of the RF could actually be bothered to travel to the stadium, sit in the stands, and actually cheer the Red Roses on!

Princess Anne often attends Scottish rugby matches. It would have meant so much to the women there if someone in the RF could have turned out for them. People clocked Mark Carney for Canada and could be seen literally looking around to see who was there for us!

Princess Catherine sent a message of support in advance and I have every sympathy with her if she is not well enough to attend a match, But if that was the case, someone in one of the offices at St James’s palace, to which we all collectively contribute a lot of money, should have clocked this situation and made other suitable plans!

Sorry Catherine and William, you can’t just pick and choose the events you want to attend like Wimbledon and Aston Villa matches!

,All is overseen and monitored by a government department.

Yes. A government 'department' that can never be questioned in the House of Commons

(See Erskine May)

But that’s just current accepted practice. Erskine May is adapted all the time. If enough politicians want to change the rule they can - the monarch has no say in it.

I know that. But it's been the same for a very long time

I have seen the questions tabled and rejected endlessly by the speaker of the House of commons

Then the MPs mustn’t be that bothered by it. They managed to push through proxy voting on parental leave, relax the dress code and change the fixed term parliament rules.

Not enough care about discussing the royals.

Who’s the latest person to table it - and why can’t they get enough support from their peers?

Because.its a political hot potato that's why

You republicans need braver MPs!

and why can’t they get enough support from their peers?

Partly because there is too much entrenched cronyism. Too many MPs and senior civil servants with their eyes on the honours list. And partly because our political system is slanted towards protecting King and country eg Erskine May.

And on reflection, partly because the PR and spin machines of the RF have in the past been effective at directing everyone’s attention elsewhere. I think that’s beginning to falter a bit though.

Just noting that the previous patron of the RFU (Catherine became patron in 2022) never once attended the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final. This was despite the England team being in every single final since 2002, being in the final in the UK in 2010 and winning it (in France) in 2014…

Well shame on the Duke of Sussex then too. Looks as if Catherine is following in his footsteps with this particular patronage - neither of them could be bothered.

what has the duke of sussex got to do with it? he is not a working royal.
the thread is about the P&P of wales not bothering to go.

Harry had nothing to do with this.

The fact of it is, Kate is patron of the RFU, she can’t be bothered to work.

As @Serenster rather coyly pointed out the previous Patron of the RFU was Prince Harry - from 2016 until 2021 when he stepped back from royal duties. It seems that he didn't attend any world cup finals either when the women were playing.

In which case, presumably he just doesn’t want to go to the women’s matches 🤷‍♀️

So if you think it’s bad he did it, you must also think it’s bad that Kate won’t do it?

Yes @slippedawaylikeabottleofwine I do think it's bad that she didn't attend, particularly since she is the Patron of the RFU.

Yes both of them should have gone. What's the point in being patrons if the patrons don't bother to go to support you? I don't think it's a Harry v Royals thing, as I've said before( although I admit for some it is) Harry is a member of the RF. He is also lazy and entitled. He has been brought up in a system where it's ' work' enough to be handed patronages that you then do nothing with. They do it with charity patronages too. Never go to visit but when people ask what the RF do it's ' oh they are patrons on loads of charities.

ahh makes sense now, PH fans like to mention him and M in every thread.
still nothing to do with P & P of wales not going.

What's the point in being patrons if the patrons don't bother to go to support you?

As pointed out upthread, both the Prince and Princess of Wales did attend a previous match a few weeks ago (England and Wales were both playing). The Princess then sent good wishes to the team for the final.

I'm sure she was quite capable of explaining to the team that she wasn't able to be there for the final when she spent time with them after that match.

I'm sure she was quite capable of explaining to the team that she wasn't able to be there for the final when she spent time with them after that match.

Did she explain why?

I've no idea

Oh
It just seemed from your post that you had heard she had explained to the team that she couldn't be there for the final

I imagine 3 young children and recovering from cancer might make your post not only only wrong but deeply unpleasant on a site primarily designed to support mothers.

No they weren't. They were there on a freebie with some insurance company

I wouldn't call you a numpty even if you are....