Should Prince William fly to Australia to support the Lionesses?

Plus it would be us taxpayers footing the bill.

I think Anniebach and CoolCoco make a good point about a reception on the teams return.

I live in Australia and while the question has been asked I doubt many people here would really be too put out if he doesn't attend. It is after all a bloody long flight!!!!

I think as he is President of the FA, he should definitely go and support the Lionesses. It is an historic event, whether you like football or not. There was always the chance that they’d be in the final, so it should have been a provisional date in his diary.

Andy Murray won the US Open, Duke of Kent didn’t fly to
America

The US Open isn't a World Championship, though.

And Eddie was getting on a bit even then!

CoolCoco

Plus it would be us taxpayers footing the bill.

Or the FA, surely?

Patsy70

I think as he is President of the FA, he should definitely go and support the Lionesses. It is an historic event, whether you like football or not. There was always the chance that they’d be in the final, so it should have been a provisional date in his diary.

In fact, being President of the FA requires of him to be impartial- and as he would be obviously supporting the Lionesses- perhaps in conflict with the above.

Fleurpepper

Patsy70

I think as he is President of the FA, he should definitely go and support the Lionesses. It is an historic event, whether you like football or not. There was always the chance that they’d be in the final, so it should have been a provisional date in his diary.

In fact, being President of the FA requires of him to be impartial- and as he would be obviously supporting the Lionesses- perhaps in conflict with the above.

Why?
The Football Association is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man

Are you thinking of FIFA, Fleurpepper?

This sums up how I feel about it.
www.spectator.co.uk/article/who-cares-if-prince-william-isnt-at-the-world-cup-final/

Another photo op for Cleverly!

Agree Casdon

Callistemon21

Are you thinking of FIFA, Fleurpepper?

Yes, apologies. I stand corrected. In which case, yes, ignore my comment.

I am not at all a footie fan- as you can see! But excited and will be supporting lionesses tomorrow. Over half the population where I live is of Spanish, Portuguese or Italian descent - and married to, or friends with, the locals- I shall have to shout VERY loud.

I'm watching The Matildas - feeling frustrated!

Prince William is being criticised for not flying 22 hours to Australia to see the football . It’s not a cheap undertaking to have the heir to the throne visit overseas . It requires planning and a lot of expenditure. If he did go he would be criticised for going .
Ppl need to understand this

The Australian govt would have to pay for IPP . At the moment there is a pro republican govt in power there . There has been a lot of anti monarchy sentiments ( thank you Harry & Meghan ) and the country is facing a massive housing crisis with entire families on the streets , including homeless essential workers , the worst housing crisis in Australian history . I don’t think it would make any govt popular under these circumstances. Prince William an advocate for homelessness awareness knows this as well . The money spent for his 2 hr stay in Oz can def be spent on more pressing issues . It takes a strong man to make the right choice esp if that choice is unpopular.

I hear all about Australia's problems.

However, I still believe it was the wrong decision.
He would not be attending as Prince of Wales, that is incidental, but in his rôle as President of the Football Association.

Callistemon21

I'm watching The Matildas - feeling frustrated!

One of our AC has Swedish and Australian Godparents 🙀

I agree with Mollygo. Also there’s far too much importance and attention given to sporting events. There are so many more important things we should focus on and the Prince has made a good start.

Mollygo Thank you for your post 10.38.00
I was thinking that William should have gone, but have now changed my mind after reading the info you've given.

Interesting post, Mollygo but this would mean there is very little point in the president of the FA attending a football tournament in any country if their economic situation is an issue. You could argue why did Australia agree to host it in the first place?

To be fair, I don’t care one way or the other.

Perhaps it might be better if he wasn’t the President of the FA, because then a cheaper less security-organisation-needing person, could have hopped on a plane that was already going to Australia and fulfilled the rôle.

I don’t take it as a particular slight against the female team either. I’m much more interested in the issue of equal pay. Perhaps PW could be approached about doing something about that, but with only Six of the 37 seats on the new Fifa Council – 16% – being reserved for women (hopefully AHF), it’ll be a struggle.
Equally irritating to me were the immediate cries of let’s have Sarina Wiegman as coach for the men’s team.
Did PW attend any of the men’s football matches? I bet he’ll think very carefully about doing so in the future.

It would have been nice had he gone and I'm sure the Lionesses would have appreciated but I don't think he should have.

merlotgran

Personally I think he should but I think cost and carbon footprint have been given as the reasons for him not to go.

What are your views or do you not care either way?

I think he should go if he wants to but not just for the sake of it.

I certainly don't think he should go, 'all that carbon footprint,another jolly at tax payers expense?' the criticism would be endless. I don't think for one moment PW differentiates between the men or women's teams. I'm sure both are of equal value to him as they are to most right minded people. As for just taking Princess Charlotte?? I'm sure that would be just the thing to enhance sibling harmony??!! Not a very good idea! Also if the reception he received were to be the same as was dished out to the Lioness's by the Australian crowd,then he would be at serious risk of being booed! Clearly we Brits, the RF in particular are not popular in Australia. Not very pleasant either for him or the team. Best to stay at home and if successful take up Annies suggestion.