Prince Harry used to be the royal patron of England’s Rugby Football Union. After the Windsors forced Harry out of his “royal” patronages, they let the RFU patronage sit dormant for a year, then they gave it to the Princess of Wales. Since 2022, she’s only done a handful of rugby themed-events. She and William did attend a rugby game in March, but that’s the only thing Kate has done with rugby in two years. Well, the Women’s Rugby World Cup started last Friday with some big round-robin match-ups, including England vs. the United States. England won. And their patroness was not there to see it. But hey, she sent a tweet. So did Prince William, who is patron of Welsh Rugby.
Wishing the Red Roses the very best as they kick off their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign tonight. I look forward to cheering you on and seeing the team rise to the challenge on home soil! C
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) August 22, 2025
Good luck to Wales Women as they kick off their Rugby World Cup campaign against Scotland today! Pob lwc, Cymru – ewch amdani! W
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) August 23, 2025
Much like William and Kate skipping VJ Day and just sending one tweet about it, I really find it odd that these two “working royals” don’t understand what an “easy win” it would be to simply show up? Like, it’s the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, you should actually take a day “off” from your vacation to make it there in person. It’s even more galling with these rugby games – it’s less of a time commitment, it’s an actual “fun” activity which tons of people would love to do, and they could bring their kids. Incidentally, as if on cue, photographers got a few pics of Kate and William in Balmoral on Sunday. That’s their justification for not showing up for rugby – they were on vacation in Scotland, how dare you expect them to switch up their vacation plans to work!
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.
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1 October 2015.
The Duke of Cambridge throws a rugby ball during a visit to the National Sport Centre in Cardiff to launch the Coach Core Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) Programme. Coach Core was created by The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry in 2012 as part of the Olympic Legacy programme. It provides an intense training programme for 16 to 24-year-olds, many from disadvantaged social backgrounds, to become qualified coaches and inspire their peers. *** Local Caption *** *,Image: 538105066, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Spain, Portugal and South America only – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@avalon.red, Model Release: no, Credit line: Papixs Press/Look Press / Avalon
- Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits an England Rugby training session at Twickenham today as part of her new role as Patron of the Rugby Football Union,Image: 658455549, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Jeremy Selwyn / Avalon
- The Prince of Wales takes part in a rugby coaching session with local school children during a visit to Ocean View Secondary School in Cape Town, South Africa, on day one of his visit to South Africa, ahead of the fourth annual Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony on November 6. Picture date: Monday November 4, 2024.,Image: 930712945, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Aaron Chown/Avalon/Avalon
- Britain’s Prince William, Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), and Kate, the Princess of Wales, Patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), meet injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust as they attend the Wales versus England Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Saturday, March 15, 2025.,Image: 976118530, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WPA POOL PHOTO, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Alastair Grant/Avalon
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Marseille, FRANCE – Catherine (Kate) Middleton, Princess of Wales, attends England’s victory over Argentina in the Rugby World Cup at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France.
Pictured: Kate Middleton
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The Prince and Princess of Wales meet injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, before officially opening the Sir Tasker Watkins Suite, ahead of the Wales vs England Six Nations Match at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Picture date: Saturday February 25, 2023.
Featuring: Prince William
Where: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
When: 25 Feb 2023
Credit: Matthew Horwood/PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images**North America Rights Only**
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The Prince and Princess of Wales meet injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, before officially opening the Sir Tasker Watkins Suite, ahead of the Wales vs England Six Nations Match at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Picture date: Saturday February 25, 2023.
Featuring: Catherine, Princess Of Wales
Where: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
When: 25 Feb 2023
Credit: Matthew Horwood/PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images**North America Rights Only**
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Royals meet injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust as they attend the Wales v England Six Nations match at Pincipality Stadium
Featuring: Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales
Where: Cardiff, United Kingdom
When: 15 Mar 2025
Credit: Alastair Grant/PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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Royals meet injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust as they attend the Wales v England Six Nations match at Pincipality Stadium
Featuring: Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales
Where: Cardiff, United Kingdom
When: 15 Mar 2025
Credit: Alastair Grant/PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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Royals meet injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust as they attend the Wales v England Six Nations match at Pincipality Stadium
Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales
Where: Cardiff, United Kingdom
When: 15 Mar 2025
Credit: Alastair Grant/PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
-
Royals meet injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust as they attend the Wales v England Six Nations match at Pincipality Stadium
Featuring: Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales
Where: Cardiff, United Kingdom
When: 15 Mar 2025
Credit: Alastair Grant/PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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Royals meet injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust as they attend the Wales v England Six Nations match at Pincipality Stadium
Featuring: Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales
Where: Cardiff, United Kingdom
When: 15 Mar 2025
Credit: Alastair Grant/PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**