Gransnet forums

Chat

Should Prince William fly to Australia to support the Lionesses?

(152 Posts)
merlotgran Fri 18-Aug-23 16:22:42

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?

Anniebach Sun 20-Aug-23 07:08:42

Little girls interested in football is sickly !

Chardy Sun 20-Aug-23 07:22:03

I heard the PW/PC Good Luck message on the radio yesterday when we were coming back from football. Having just read the preceding posts, I've searched to listen to the whole thing. It's 19 seconds long, clearly thrown together. And PC is holding a football!
If you want to see an 8 year old girl getting excited about football, and showing the team what them getting to the final means to her, watch this natural interview
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62315709

BlueBelle Sun 20-Aug-23 07:48:35

I think using his daughter to try and ‘make it right’ is abysmal
Just making it all worse you can just hear his thoughts oh that ll placate them ‘come on Charlotte let’s do a little publicity film to show how interested we are’

Anniebach Sun 20-Aug-23 07:57:43

Such sad thinking BlueBell can it not be his daughter wanted to wish the team good luck

Joseann Sun 20-Aug-23 08:06:16

You might be interested (or not) to hear BlueBelle that football for girls features strongly in the the sports curriculum at Charlotte's school. In fact along with Cricket, football is compulsory for the girls and the school has brilliant success in these disciplines. They have U11 and U13 teams called Lambrook Lionesses.
It therefore stands to reason that Charlotte is extremely interested in the sport. ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️

Peartree Sun 20-Aug-23 08:20:44

What ever PW does will be wrong.

Blondiescot Sun 20-Aug-23 08:26:05

I genuinely think that if it had been the men's team, he'd have been over there like a shot! And I don't find anything wrong with Charlotte being involved in the video - there has been a massive increase in girls becoming interested in football, so why shouldn't she?

dragonfly46 Sun 20-Aug-23 08:27:24

He is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.

Anniebach Sun 20-Aug-23 08:28:59

We don’t know how difficult security would be

merlotgran Sun 20-Aug-23 08:38:07

Anniebach

We don’t know how difficult security would be

All the more reason for him to step aside as president of the FA.

He wasn’t heir to the throne when he took on the role.

Visgir1 Sun 20-Aug-23 08:39:41

Agree security would be a nightmare, too short a notice.
As for little girls not interested.. My 6 year old Granddaughter, drew me the pitch last night with the English and Spanish teams on it, she proudly put it on the Fridge door.

Mollygo Sun 20-Aug-23 08:48:42

Peartree

What ever PW does will be wrong.

Yes. I also think, given the anti royal feeling among some Australians, that his presence would give rise to heckling which could affect the morale of the women’s team. They’ve already succeeded in beating the home team, who had most supporters cheering them on.
They don’t need to face any other hassle which doesn’t actually concern them.

He’s not going. Maybe that’s a signal to have someone more connected with football as President of FIFA. Someone like Sepp Blatter for instance.

I’ll get the follow up comments done now.
If (hopefully) they win . . .
They didn’t need PW there anyway.

And if they lose . . .
Spain won because their RF flew out.

I’d like to see the head of FIFA do something about equal pay.
Tennis is only just getting started on that and has 2033 as a target. Can football do any better?

Lovetopaint037 Sun 20-Aug-23 10:20:22

I am so glad I am not Royal. The luxury of being able to make decisions without the whole world watching.

BlueBelle Sun 20-Aug-23 10:37:28

I didn’t say the little girl wasn’t interested in football Annie she could well be a player herself Josanne but she was used by her father to make it seem better and I can see that, if you can’t, she was used as a buffer
I can understand the problems with security although he didn’t have security when he was up up and away in helicopters but if he can’t move without it now,then he’s not fit for purpose to be president of FA is he ?
He should be representing the body

Anniebach Sun 20-Aug-23 10:38:01

Watching and criticising

BlueBelle Sun 20-Aug-23 10:38:37

Shouldnt not should sorry

Anniebach Sun 20-Aug-23 10:40:01

Big difference in security in a helicopter than a football stadium

Callistemon21 Sun 20-Aug-23 10:40:36

Why on earth use his child in that video … sickly

Perhaps she asked to be in it!

Little girls shouldn't be interested in football? 😲
Try telling that to DGD and her team mates!!

Callistemon21 Sun 20-Aug-23 10:43:01

Yes. I also think, given the anti royal feeling among some Australians, that his presence would give rise to heckling which could affect the morale of the women’s team

Well I think most of my Australian extended family will be republicans as is the Prime Minister, but they wouldn't be so rude as to heckle.

henetha Sun 20-Aug-23 10:43:22

It's sad that some people have to apply cynical motives to
William's actions. I thought it was a lovely touch to see and hear Charlotte in that little video.
And whatever his reasons for not going to Australia for the final are his reasons, unknown to us. He would have been criticised whatever decision he made.
Maybe it is best if he steps aside as President of the FA now that he has the pressure of being Prince of Wales.

Joseann Sun 20-Aug-23 11:07:41

I think that maybe the lines between royalty and celebrity have become blurred, though I guess sport always held a high priority with royals anyway, and probably always will. (It looks like Charlotte has the sporty genes!) We kind of demand or expect them to show up at the big showy events - tennis, rugby, etc, and are often disappointed if they don't. So then we expect a clip like this one to make up for it.
If it's because William believes that the school holidays are sacred for spending time with the kids, then I would accept that reason and support him.
Hasn't Charlotte been "used" before to speak her mind? I remember a clip about David Attenborough about saving the planet? Spiders or something? All topics perfectly chosen to reflect the interests of girls of her age. 🕷 ⚽️

lemsip Sun 20-Aug-23 11:49:52

reading in the times and others, there are several suggestions as to why william has not gone to australia. The King has not been to australia for nine years and needs to put that right now he is king. If william had gone and we win the celebration would over shadow the kings visit!
also of course, the royals cannot just choose where and when they can go anywhere

the royals are at balmoral now and there are going to be talks between the king and william about the way forward for the monarchy.
all in the various media if you search.

lemsip Sun 20-Aug-23 11:52:28

EXCLUSIVE: King Charles to hold royal summit with Kate and William to decide future of monarchy
Monarch will tell the Prince and Princess of Wales of his intention to carve out precise roles for them as well as himself and Queen Camilla

Callistemon21 Sun 20-Aug-23 12:03:18

lemsip

EXCLUSIVE: King Charles to hold royal summit with Kate and William to decide future of monarchy
Monarch will tell the Prince and Princess of Wales of his intention to carve out precise roles for them as well as himself and Queen Camilla

It might not include being President of the Football Association
⚽️

merlotgran Sun 20-Aug-23 12:03:45

Never mind a way forward. They’ve just taken a step backwards. A lot will be made of the fact that the Spanish girls have their Queen cheering them on and we don’t even have a minor Royal there.