Express & Star

William and Kate cheer on opposing sides at Six Nations match

The royals took their seats at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to watch England and Wales compete in the competition’s final round of matches.

By contributor Rod Minchin, PA
Published
The Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales in the stands
The Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales in the stands during the match (Joe Giddens/PA)

The Prince and Princess of Wales cheered on opposing sides at Saturday’s Wales v England Six Nations match.

William and Kate took their seats at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to watch the teams compete in the competition’s final round of matches.

The prince is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) while the princess holds a similar position with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The famously competitive couple have previously joked about supporting different teams during the tournament with William supporting Wales and Kate rooting for England.

William and Kate met injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust ahead of the Wales v England Six Nations match (Alastair Grant/PA)
William and Kate met injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust ahead of the Wales v England Six Nations match (Alastair Grant/PA)

In 2023, William remarked it would be a “tense journey home” with his wife after a Six Nations Wales v England match in Cardiff.

Kate is gradually returning to public duties after revealing she is in remission from cancer.

She also has an engagement with the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day in London on Monday.

Before the match, the couple met injured players who have been supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust inside the Sir Tasker Watkins Suite – a space dedicated for use by the players and their families ahead of games.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have been watching rugby together for many years
The Prince and Princess of Wales have been watching rugby together for many years (David Davies/PA)

William is patron of the trust, which was set up to help players who have been severely injured while playing rugby in Wales, and their loved ones, inviting them to every Wales home game and hosting an annual family day.

The royal couple spoke of how they watch Princes George and Louis play rugby at weekends in “freezing” weather.

“At weekends we go from one competition to the next,” William said.

Kate said: “Louis is six and he’s just started touch rugby and George is 11 and he plays a bit more. They do really enjoy it, actually.

She added: “They’ve been exposed to lots of different sports.”

The Princess of Wales is the Patron of the Rugby Football Union (Jeremy Selwyn/PA)
The Princess of Wales is patron of the Rugby Football Union (Jeremy Selwyn/PA)

William and Kate chatted with the former players about their rugby careers and how they are continuing to enjoy the game.

On arriving at the stadium, they met the 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh’s Goat Major and mascot, Lance Corporal Shenkin.

They were also introduced to Morfudd Meredith, the Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Terry Cobner, president, Richard Collier-Keywood, chairman, and chief executive Abi Tierney, all of the Welsh Rugby Union, and Rob Udwin, president of the Rugby Football Union.