Prince William and Rishi Sunak absence sparks controversy
Prince William, president of the FA, and Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, have come under fire for deciding to skip the women's World Cup final, which will see the Lionesses make their first-ever appearance in the final. The match will take place in Sydney, Australia.
Prince William concerned about carbon footprint
Kensington Palace confirmed yesterday that Prince William will be supporting the Lionesses from home due to his concerns about his carbon footprint. The prince is known for his dedication to environmental causes and reportedly wants to keep his air travel to a minimum.
Prime Minister sends Culture Secretary instead
Rather than attending the historic game himself, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be sending Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer as his representative. This decision has also been met with criticism, with some questioning why Sunak did not choose to attend himself.
Spain's Queen Letizia set to attend
Adding to the controversy, Spain's Queen Letizia has revealed that she will be attending the final in Sydney. This has led to further questions as to why Prince William and Rishi Sunak have chosen not to attend.
Calls for a day off if Lionesses win
As the Lionesses prepare for their historic match, there have been calls for the government to announce a national day off if they emerge victorious. A spokesperson for No10 has stated that they will find a way to celebrate the team's achievements.
Outrage over Prince William's absence
Royal experts and women's rights advocates have expressed their disappointment and frustration over Prince William's decision to not attend the women's World Cup final. Some have even compared his absence to what they believe would have been his presence if it were the England men's football team in the final.
The Lionesses' first-ever World Cup final appearance is set to take place on Sunday.
