England team visit an ‘own goal’ for Prince of Wales says Sky News correspondent
The new Prince of Wales scored an “own goal” when he visited the England team to wish them luck at the World Cup in Qatar, according to Sky News’ Royal correspondent.
Rhiannon Mills said that the controversy around the visit had “played perfectly into the hands of those who don’t want him to be the Prince of Wales”.
William was criticised for being the Prince of one country but backing another after he told England’s World Cup squad “we’re all rooting for you” during a surprise visit to their camp on Monday.
Welsh actor Michael Sheen said that the visit to hand out shirts at England’s World Cup camp was “entirely inappropriate” while he was Prince of Wales.
But speaking during a visit to the Senedd yesterday, Prince William sought to play down the controversy by saying that both football teams would have his full support.
“When I was growing up Wales didn’t get through to the tournaments but I will be supporting them all the way through the process,” he said.
He can, of course, support whoever he likes and as Pres of FA his role makes visit understandable – but surely he sees holding the title Prince of Wales at same time is entirely inappropriate? Not a shred of embarrassment? Or sensitivity to the problem here? #PrinceofWales https://t.co/Hoanq9snXt
— michael sheen 💙 (@michaelsheen) November 15, 2022
The Prince’s handling of the matter did not however impress Rhiannon Mills who said that it had created “a problem for William and his team, as it’s opened up the debate about his title to a much bigger audience”.
“His advisers would argue that he has always very publicly been an England supporter, and would we really expect him to completely change allegiances,” she said.
“But on a day which was billed as a chance for him to find out what really matters to people in Wales, and an important moment for building connections, he could have done more to show support for the national team.”
She added that “as emotions build ahead of the first World Cup games, there will be those who’ll be thinking if he isn’t supporting the team, is he really one of them?”
Her comments came after actor Michael Sheen took to social media to respond to his English FA trip, saying: “He can, of course, support whoever he likes and as President of the FA his role makes visit understandable.
“But surely he sees holding the title Prince of Wales at the same time is entirely inappropriate?
“Not a shred of embarrassment? Or sensitivity to the problem here?”
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Pwilliam doesn’t have the ability to think logically. Typical royal lack of intellect and NO understanding of irony. #Not my prince.
I don’t care about him supporting England, I don’t want him anywhere near our country. End the title, get out of Wales.
I’m glad this opens up the debate because the sooner they decide to call William, what he actually is, the Prince of England, the better. We don’t need royalty in Cymru and certainly not the foreign kind!!
I wonder if the descendants of Glyndwr or Iestyn Ap Gwrgan can be found?
What will happen is the royal family will ignore the outcry, wait for it to blow over and …carry on as usual. The only way we are going to get rid of this title – is through independence. Then ‘our’ say will be the final say not theirs.
The World Cup has blown this up big style and we must never let it blow over. You are right to say that is what they are hoping for though.
It was an own goal because he didn’t do the same with the Wales squad. He thinks we are so easy and not of sound mind. They genuinely thought the Welsh wouldn’t mind about it. After all, we haven’t in the past, have we?
He could not do a better thing FOR Cymru than drop the title and at the same time take a load of pressure off himself. It’s a win win.
It is an insult to our country we are not a Principality but a country its outdated and not wanted
We never were a “Principality”. The Principality in Question only ever referred to the Old Petty Kingdom of Gwynedd that would come to reside in Wales after it was unified in 1057.
Remember the Prince of Wales doesn’t even support Wales in a tournament in which Wales are involved, the next time the Welsh glory hunters who support England, the media and Tory politicians tell us we have to support England because they’re British and we’re small minded not to, etc, etc.
Are they British? Was it not the Saxons who founded their nation?! They are ofcourse Geographically British…but it doesn’t go any further than that.
The title has no duties attached. It’s just an invented empty title. Simply change the name in that title from “Wales” to “England”. Problem solved. I have no problem with him supporting England. I just disagree that he should represent Cymru in ANY way. Especially since he doesn’t even use our own name for us.
Exactly! If it has no Function or Authority it’s simply nothing more than Role Playing. The title hasn’t had any Authority Since the days of Henry V and Owain Glyndwr.