Prince William says sorry to Lionesses after outrage at failure to attend World Cup final
Prince William has apologised for not attending the World Cup final
TWITTER / KENSINGTON ROYAL / REUTERS
Prince William has issued an apology to the Lionesses for not attending the World Cup final against Spain.
William reportedly harboured concerns over the length of the journey, with the game being played in Sydney, Australia.
Speaking alongside Princess Charlotte in adorable footage, the Prince of Wales wished the Lionesses luck in England’s first World Cup final since 1966, when the men’s team emerged victorious against West Germany.
“I want to send you a huge good luck for tomorrow”, William said in a video statement posted to Twitter via the Kensington Royal page.
WATCH WILLIAM'S STATEMENT IN FULL BELOW
“We’re sorry we couldn’t be there in person. We’re so proud of everything you’ve achieved and the millions you’ve inspired here and around the world.
“So go out there tomorrow and really enjoy yourselves.”
Princess Charlotte, appearing alongside her father while holding a football, added: “Good luck Lionesses!”
Questions arose over whether the Prince would attend Sunday’s final after England beat Australia 3-1 in the semi final.
The heir to the throne celebrated England’s “phenomenal performance” with a congratulatory tweet after the win, saying the Lionesses are an “inspiration on and off the pitch”.
William, who is the president of the Football Association (FA), will be watching the game from home.
England are on the cusp of history
PA
He did not travel to Qatar for the men’s World Cup in October and reportedly did not plan to had England progressed to the latter stages of the tournament.
In the end, the team lost 2-1 to France in the quarter finals.
Spanish royalty will be present at the final, with Queen Letizia set to travel to Australia.
She will travel with her 16-year-old daughter Ifanta Sofia to show the country’s “commitment” to national football.
William saw the Lionesses win the European Championship last year, presenting them with their medals at Wembley.
After the Lionesses’ semi-final victory on Wednesday, both the King and the Prince of Wales congratulated the team on their win.
William’s travel concerns are believed to have stemmed from his commitment to tackling climate change.
The royal has launched initiatives such as the Earthshot Prize to find solutions to repair and regenerate the planet.