Fans criticize Prince William for not attending Lionesses final

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【Summary】Prince William has faced criticism for not attending the Women's World Cup final to support the Lionesses. As the president of England's Football Association, fans felt his absence showed a lack of support for women in sport. Some reports suggested William was concerned about his carbon footprint and potential diplomatic issues. Spain's Queen Letizia attended the final, further adding to the criticism. A YouGov poll showed that 52% of Britons expected the monarch to be present.

FutureCar Staff Aug 20, 2023 7:20 AM PT

Fans criticize Prince William for not attending Lionesses final

Prince William has faced criticism for not being present to support the Lionesses in their World Cup final against Spain. Fans in England have criticized him after he posted a video message apologizing for not traveling to Australia to support the team. In the video, William, who is the president of England's Football Association, sent his "good luck" to the women's team and expressed his pride in their achievements. However, fans saw his absence as a reflection of the monarchy's attitude towards women in sport.

William's decision to not attend the final was met with sharp criticism on social media, with football fans, opposition leaders, and celebrities expressing their disappointment. Some media reports suggested that William was concerned about his carbon footprint and the potential diplomatic and security problems his trip could cause. However, these reasons were deemed insufficient by critics.

The absence of William and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from the final was seen by fans as a lack of support for the Lionesses and a reflection of their attitude towards women in sport. Fans pointed out that William had made time to watch England play a men's rugby World Cup final at the same stadium in Sydney 20 years ago, adding to the criticism.

On the other hand, Spain's Queen Letizia traveled to Australia for the final, accompanied by her daughter Sofia, to show the country's commitment to national football. This further fueled the criticism of William, as fans compared the actions of the Spanish queen to his absence.

According to polls conducted by YouGov, 52 percent of Britons expected the monarch to support the Lionesses in person. This further highlights the disappointment and frustration felt by fans over William's absence.

For live coverage of the final, you can follow Al Jazeera's updates.