Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, are preparing for a fresh rivalry as they make plans to attend the France Rugby World Cup this weekend, where they'll be cheering for different teams.
Kensington Palace, acting on behalf of the Prince and Princess of Wales, has officially announced that Kate will be present at the group stage match between England and Argentina in Marseille on September 9. Meanwhile, the future king, William, is set to show his support for Wales as they face Fiji in a group stage match in Bordeaux the following day.
William, who serves as the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, appears to be making amends for a past omission when he did not travel to Australia to support the England Women's football team during their significant achievement. His absence during the Lionesses' FIFA World Cup final last month had drawn significant criticism.
Previously, Prince William and Kate came face to face during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Wales and England at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on February 25, 2023. The couple has often excited fans by competing against each other in various sports during official engagements. Notably, they participated in a regatta in the Bahamas during an official tour of the Caribbean in March of the previous year.
Kate holds the position of patron for the Rugby Football Union, which governs the sport in England, while William has been a dedicated patron of the Welsh Rugby Union for an extended period.
The couple's separate travel arrangements suggest that they won't cross paths with Prince Harry during his upcoming visit to the UK on September 7. Speculation is also swirling about potential peace talks between the Duke and his father, Charles.
