Prince of Wales says he will support ‘both’ World Cup group rivals England and Wales during Senedd visit
The Prince of Wales has said that he will be supporting “both” England and Wales at the World Cup, despite them being rivals in Group B.
His comments follow criticism that he was 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 today however Prince William said that both football teams would have his full support.
He told WalesOnline journalist Will Hayward: “I support both. I support England more in the football, but Wales in the rugby.
“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.
“Getting to the World Cup is a big deal and I’ll be supporting Wales through the process.”
On supporting England or Wales Prince William said: On football: “I support both. I support England more in the football but Wales in the rugby. 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…” pic.twitter.com/mhZNQwFS3w
— Will Hayward (@WillHayCardiff) November 16, 2022
Prince William made the comments during a visit to Cardiff to meet with representatives of the Welsh Parliament.
William undertook a brief tour of the building and debating chamber led by the Llywydd, Elin Jones.
He then met with politicians from the four parties represented in the Senedd – Welsh Labour, the Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
Kensington Palace said the visit was “in order to deepen his understanding of the issues and opportunities of greatest importance to the Welsh people”.
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
It comes 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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So does that mean he wants Lloegr and us to draw?
And share the World Cup? The bloke’s a t**t of the highest order.
Is this the best this clown can do for damage limitation?
Just support your home nation Willy and stop wearing our nation as an adornment. Just hand back the title your daddy made up for you and we can ALL be happy.
You don’t care about Cymru. This doesn’t bother us, because Cymru doesn’t care about you either.
Be the most aware of the shiny hat crowd. Hand back the anachrnistic and divisive titles. England would find it simply spiffing if you’d become THEIR prince instead. We’d be pleased too
Dim diolch.
He knows he is making us angry so he’s trying to cover all bases now and it won’t work. All he has to do is drop the title and he’s in the clear because he hasn’t done anything else wrong. Drop the title and be free and free Wales from the insult. He’d never do a better thing.
When you’ve put yourself in a hole, stop digging. #notmyprince
Prince of Wales hahahahahahahahaha and I’m the Prince of England.
Ahem!
What a lame excuse. William is English and he can support England all he likes but he must step down as Prince of Wales. We don’t need or want him.
He DOESN’T support Welsh rugby. He made a big fuss about supporting England when they won the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2003. – #NOT my prince.
We do NOT WANT OR NEED YOUT SUPPORT so support England
Head of the English FA is his real love. They can keep him. We don’t need dress up Disney cringe anymore
That’s exactly what it is… They are playing pretend. Its a Masquerade! Nothing more.
Would have went down better had he Said that to the squad as opposed to saying it after they had left. Clear damage control and nothing more.
Congrats to Gwynedd for refusing to host the ridiculous investiture. Will Cardiff City Council do the same? Contact your Councillor and tell them not to allow this charade, all at public expense.
“I support England more in the football, but Wales in the rugby”.
After all that boot-licking by the WRU that’s the least he could do.
Of course he has said this after all of the criticism but we know he doesn’t mean it
You sense the pressure is really getting to the Brit Establishment. The more we protest, and voice our disdain, the more they have to defend themselves and the more stupid they look. The fact that the so-called ‘Prince of Wales’ now appears to want a moratorium on his Investiture says a lot about where the balance of opinion lies. Very few people across our nation, bar Andrew RT Davies and his band of merry Loyalists, want this man to come out and support our football team. Cymru will do well in Qatar, and will do us all proud, without any… Read more »
Just be English, William. A man cannot have two masters……. neither can Dragons!
I respect that William wants to modernise the role but it’s ridiculous that i) people in Wales have no say on what the role should be and ii) he hasn’t shown sufficient levels of respect to Wales in such an early and high-profile manner. Why didn’t he just keep his head down for this one tournament and work out next steps in quiet time?
Michael Sheen is bang on here.
William is not my prince, Wales is not his country.