Wales fans push back against suggestion Kate Middleton could become new patron of Welsh football
Welsh fans have pushed back against the suggestion that Kate Middleton could become the new patron of the Football Association of Wales.
The Royal correspondent of the Daily Express, Richard Palmer, reported yesterday that the Royals were pushing for the new Princess of Wales to replace the Queen as the new patron.
“That would create the reverse situation to that in rugby union, where William is patron of Welsh rugby and Kate of the English game,” he said.
The Queen was patron until her death in September this year. The FAW put out a statement at the time on her death recognising her as its patron.
Richard Palmer said that the Royal move was however designed to “save Prince William’s blushes over his support for England while 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 last Monday.
Speaking during a visit to the Senedd on Wednesday, 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.
But some Welsh fans have spoken out against the latest gambit which sparked an angry reaction on social media.
Iestyn ap Rhobert said: “If true, this is appalling manoeuvring from the royals and UK state amounting to political interference and will surely spark massive resistance from Y Wal Goch (The Red Wall).”
Meilyr Harris called on the FAW not to “spoil and undo all your recent good work with progressing Cymru and nationality awareness.”
Poppy Lloyd added: “No. Just absolutely no.”
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The Brit Establishment and the English Royals treat us with total contempt, because they see us as limp and passive. But that’s the past. There is a new spirit in our land. If this goes ahead there will be a massive backlash, and there will be an outpouring of anger if she ever attended matches
the Welsh are subjugated and like it, is that your argument Riki? No #IndyWales #AbolishtheMonarchy those are the hashtags I see every day
Are you a deliberate idiot? It is the English establishment, they are the ones who invaded and they are the thieving landowners who own the crown estate in Wales. I am telling you there will be a massive blowback from Welsh fans if this happens.
One of the most significant things about Welsh football at the moment are the supporters that is epitomised by y Wal Goch. If football in Wales needs a patron let them pick one. I’m sure home grown candidates like Michael Sheen or Dafydd Iwan would easily win. If there was to be an election, I’m sure the ‘Palace’ would run a country mile from any contest.
And that is precisely why they want to stick their ore in.
They have noticed a new awareness of cultural identity within the FAW and its’ fanbase. They want to interfere and nip it in the bud.
English Establishment! The British government is in Cardiff
Having a laugh!!
I am sure I am not mistaken in stating that we, as in the people of Cymru, do not want this. Even those of us that do not like football that much do not like or want this. The times, as a grumpy old sellout once sang before he gave his soul to a car manufacturer, are a-changin’…and it is startling how a-changin’ they are in Cymru. Carol James is correct when she states “There is a new spirit in our land”, you can almost feel it in the air if you stand out on the moors by me…and there… Read more »
Leave Bob Dylan out of this, how dare you the man as got 11 children to support 😉.
I am totally uninterested in team sports, find them boring in the extreme. However, the idea that Baldy and Grinning Clothes Horse should be patrons of Welsh teams makes even me angry!
“Grinning Clothes Horse” – genius, I may well steal this, diolch/thanks, 😀
Even from a royalist point of view what is the point? She has absolutely no interest in Wales, let alone Welsh football. Regardless, she shouldn’t be patron.
No. Nothing more needs to be said on the subject.
Once again whatever decision is made will be with minimal or no consultation with anyone in Cymru. It’s all about image and control with nothing about how we think or feel. As a country we have to completely ignore these people – all of us. If we don’t we only have ourselves to blame for its continuation.
There is no way the FAW would accept this nonsense.
I hope you are right! There is a growing awareness of Welsh cultural identity within the FAW’s fanbase. These Royals and the British establishment see it and they do not like it, hence the meddling.
I really hope FAW do not bow to what will be inevitable pressure.
Why do they need a patron? What does a patron do? If they really need one then Dafydd Iwan would be excellent, at least he has done a lot for Welsh football with his song ‘Yma o hyd’
No thanks. Try the Wenglish Rugby Union. They worship you English burdens
The optics of this would be truly awful, please FAW, see sense and avoid any such (out-dated and regressive) royal patronage.
What gives you the idea that a patron whoever it might be and especially if it were a royal would be paying the FAW for the privilege?
I don’t think it was a serious suggestion.
Whoever suggested this knows nothing about Welsh football and how our fans operate. Its way past the days of this being acceptable. Imagine the blowback if they tried to pull off this pathetic selfish stunt.
Princess Gwenllian remains buried at Sempringham
She died some 55 years after being taken in her cradle to imprisonment in the Abbey there
Her mother Elinor De Montfort died giving her life
Her father was Llewellyn the so called Last
Lets not forget that to sanitise unpleasant truth Battenberg became Mountbatten then Windsor to create greater distance from the reality
No, absolutely not!!
I see what is happening here: Welsh football is inspiring a new sense of Welsh cultural identity.
The Royals and the British establishment do not like this one bit, so are seeking to meddle (as they always do).
I really hope the FAW have the balls to resist what will inevitably be, unrelenting pressure from the British state!
If we must have a patron, give the role to Dafydd Iwan or Michael Sheen!