William faces running backlash over WWC final absence

Laura Elston | August 20, 2023

The Prince of Wales is facing a continued backlash over his decision not to attend the Women’s World Cup final in Australia.

Former England goalkeeper Pauline Cope branded it “a shame” but said “I will not have any bad words against the royal family”.

“However this should have been pencilled in his diary from day dot after we won the Euros and qualified for the World Cup,” she said on Sunday.

She also expressed her disappointment that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and England men’s manager Gareth Southgate had not travelled to Sydney for the Lionesses’ historic clash against Spain on Sunday.

“Let’s be honest, if it was the men’s World Cup, they would all be here,” Cope, who has 60 England caps and played in the 1995 World Cup, told Times Radio.

Veteran broadcaster Jon Sopel similarly suggested it was “inconceivable” that William, who is president of the FA, and the prime minister would not travel if it was the men’s team playing.

“Happy to accept might be impossible for the PM, given other commitments,” Sopel wrote on social media platform X.

“But Prince William? Why?”

TV presenter Piers Morgan said Prince William “should have got on a plane”.

“Ridiculous that the Queen of Spain is attending the World Cup Final to support her nation’s team, and you won’t be there despite being President of the FA,” Morgan wrote in a post on X

Queen Letizia of Spain was attending with her 16-year-old daughter Ifanta Sofia to show her country’s commitment to national football.

The match marked the first time the Lionesses have reached the final of a World Cup, and the first time an England football team had competed in a World Cup final since the men’s side beat West Germany in 1966.

The King urged the Lionesses to “roar to victory”, and said he and the Queen, believed to be in Birkhall in Aberdeenshire, would be among the millions of Britons following the game from afar.

Heir to the throne William apologised to the Lionesses for not being there in a video message on Saturday.

The prince, joined by his daughter Princess Charlotte who was clutching a football, said: “Lionesses, we want to send you a huge good luck for tomorrow, we’re sorry we can’t be there in person but we’re so proud of everything you’ve achieved and the millions you’ve inspired here and around the world.”

It is understood William made the decision not to go because a trip to Australia would involve flying across the world for a very short period of time.

William is currently on his annual summer break.

He saw the Lionesses win the European Championship last year, presenting them with their medals at Wembley, and visited them in person in June at St George’s Park to wish them good luck before they left for Australia.

King Charles has not travelled to Australia since his accession.

Questions have been raised about the diplomatic implications of William visiting the country before his father has had a chance as the new monarch, and also whether Australia would have been responsible for footing the bill for William’s security costs during his stay.

The late Queen attended the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley and presented captain Bobby Moore with the trophy.