The Prince and Princess of Wales will travel to France this weekend to attend the Rugby World Cup – after William was embroiled in his decision to snub the Lionesses World Cup final last month.

Kate Middleton, 41, will attend a group stage match between England and Argentina at the Stade de Marseille on Saturday as Rugby Football Union patron.

Meanwhile, Prince William, 41, who is Welsh Rugby Union boss, will see Wales take on Fiji on Sunday at the Stade de Bordeaux.

It comes weeks after the prince, president of the Football Association and therefore responsible for promoting football at national and international level, chose not to attend the World Cup final which saw England face Spain in Australia.

The cost of the trip and the carbon footprint were cited as reasons why the prince was not going.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will travel to France this weekend to attend the Rugby World Cup – after William was embroiled in his decision to snub the Lionesses World Cup final last month.

It comes weeks after the prince, president of the Football Association and therefore responsible for promoting the game nationally and internationally, chose not to attend the World Cup final which saw England face Spain in Australia.

Palace sources said it could be seen as tactless on William’s part to return for the first time in nearly a decade to publicly cheer on England in the final, which put the Australia out of the tournament to get there.

A source told the Mail: “It was a very balanced decision. The Prince of Wales has not visited her since 2014 and would therefore like her next trip to Australia to be a substantial visit.

“He met them (the Lionesses) at St George’s Park before they left and he supported them throughout the tournament by sending good luck private messages to the manager and the team.”

But criticism has turned on the prince, as the government frantically sent Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to Sydney to support Sarina Wiegman’s party.

Mandu Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, told MailOnline: “It’s utterly ridiculous that England weren’t and still aren’t ready to celebrate the Women’s World Cup final. .

“The President of the Football Association, Prince William, is not bothering to attend, the licensing laws have not been relaxed, there will be no screens in Trafalgar Square and there will be no there was no news of any big celebration in case of victory. .

“This last minute rush from our leaders to show their support for the Lionesses is not only embarrassing, it reveals how little they think about women’s sport.

“You can guarantee that it is impossible for the men’s football team to be treated with such contempt and disrespect.”

Ahead of the final, in a video posted to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media, Prince William wished the Lionesses good luck alongside his daughter Princess Charlotte, who held a football match.

Kate Middleton, 41, will watch a group stage match between England and Argentina while Prince William, 41, will watch Wales take on Fiji (pictured attending rugby in February)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was also absent, due to “existing government business commitments”, but he will “be cheering on the Yorkshire Lionesses”, a source said.

Labor MP Kate Osborne told Times Radio: “We all know that if it was the men’s final Sunak and FA Chairman Prince William would be there no matter how long the flight to Australia.”

Gerry Sutcliffe, who was Sports Minister under Gordon Brown between 2007 and 2010, told the Telegraph: “I think the Prince of Wales should be there.

“I know it’s a long road and I’m sure he has family commitments but it’s a unique moment, it’s the World Cup final.”

Neither William nor Mr Sunak attended any of England’s Men’s World Cup matches in Qatar last winter.

However, the row escalated when the Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed that Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter, Infanta Sofia, would be in Sydney, “to show, once again, the support of the royal house in national football”.

The two men were seated in the presidential box at the Accor stadium, but were not joined by King Felipe, who is busy with other official duties.

Letizia visited the Spanish team in Madrid before heading to the tournament, watching them train and being presented with a personalized shirt.

She ended the visit with “a motivational speech which deeply resonated with the players and the technical staff”, indicated the federation.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said bosses had always known William would not be present, but he had been a “brilliant supporter of the team throughout”.

William said, “Lions, I want to send you huge good luck for tomorrow.

“We’re sorry we can’t be there in person, but we’re so proud of all you’ve accomplished and the millions of people you’ve inspired here and around the world. So go tomorrow and really have fun. .

A beaming Charlotte, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, added, “Good luck Lionesses!”

The couple’s decision to attend the matches in France comes after enjoying a summer holiday at Balmoral with the Royal Family.

They joined other family members at the church as the Royal Family spent their first summer holiday at the estate since the Queen’s death a year ago.

Sitting alongside Prince William as he walked to church on Sunday, Prince Andrew looked well and truly back in the royal fold. The disgraced duke, 63, was driven to church by the future king, whose wife Catherine sat in the back seat.

Experts said Prince Andrew’s appearance in a car with William and Kate as the family drove to Balmoral church was a ‘public statement of solidarity’, but there was ‘no possibility “that he resume his royal duties.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline that the photographs of Prince Andrew traveling to church with Wales were ‘clearly meant to send a message of family unity’.

But he insisted it was not a sign that Andrew might return to public office in any form.

“It is a sad moment for the Royal Family on their usual break at Balmoral. They and the nation will soon be commemorating the first anniversary of the Queen’s death,” Mr Fitzwilliams said.

“We know how close Andrew was to the late Queen. His appearance at the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service in March 2022, where he supported her physically while she gave him emotional and financial support, sparked a stir. many controversies.

“It has been reported that his allowance has been reduced. There were rumors that his tenure at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he resides, was in jeopardy.

“He would also try to regain the police protection he lost when he stepped down from his royal duties.”

But Mr Fitzwilliams added: ‘It is important to stress that there is no possibility, as King Charles and Prince William have always understood, of him returning to public office in any form. .”

“A look at his non-existent approval ratings in the polls shows very clearly the public’s state of mind on this issue.

“However, the focus is on harmony on a personal level and it is clear that he and his immediate family, who are also at Balmoral, will greatly appreciate it, especially as the photographs we see today are a very public statement of unity.”