Prince George and his father, Prince William, were sat in the Presidential Box to support the Wales Rugby Team for the quarter-final clash against Argentina on Saturday.
In addition to his interest in music, Prince George also has a deep passion for sports - especially rugby, exemplified by his recent trip to France. Joined by his father, Prince William, George embarked on a memorable adventure to witness the Rugby World Cup. Once again, Prince George has stepped into the spotlight, and his youthful charm has captivated all who were watching.
A royal first abroad
In a remarkable debut, Prince George, the 10-year-old future king of England, took center stage at the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in France.
Prince George's appearance at the Stade de Marseille marked his first time watching an international sporting fixture abroad, as per The Independent. The young prince, an avid rugby fan who plays the sport at school, couldn't hide his enthusiasm as he joined his father in cheering on Wales as they battled Argentina in the Rugby World Cup.
George and his father, who serves as the Welsh Rugby Union's patron, saw Wales' elimination from the competition as they faced a 29-17 defeat. For George, however, the situation was different as he gained an enormous following for his remarkable confidence at such a tender age. The young prince's confident and cheerful presence at the Rugby World Cup was met with admiration from fans and spectators.
One wrote: 'Watching Prince William and Prince George meeting representatives of the Welsh and Argentinian rugby associations before the match, their mannerisms are so similar!'
Another gushed: [Really lovely to see William guiding his son and gently introducing him to the world stage.'
While his mother, Kate Middleton, passionately supports the England rugby side as the patron of the Rugby Football Union, George made his loyalties clear by attending the Wales game. His father, Prince William, is the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, and the father-son duo sported matching navy suits and red ties, a patriotic nod to the Welsh side.
Following the defeat, Prince William thanked the Wales rugby team on Instagram, writing: 'Commiserations @WelshRugbyUnion, sorry that it wasn’t to be this year but you can be very proud of all you have achieved and I know you’ll come back even stronger.'
Royal greetings and affectionate banter
As they arrived at the stadium, they were greeted by esteemed figures in the world of rugby. World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont, France 2023 deputy chief executive Martine Nemecek, and Welsh Rugby Union president Gerald Davies welcomed the royals.
Prince William introduced his son to Gerald Davies and, in a playful banter, compared the playing styles of Mr. Davies and Sir Bill Beaumont. Introducing his son to Davies, William said: 'Gerald wore the jersey for Wales and was one of the best players ever. Bill played for England.'
Pointing to Davies and then to Sir Bill, William joked: 'He was very fast and he was quite sluggish.'
A royal bond over rugby
As per The Telegraph, this wasn't the first time Prince George showed his passion for the sport. In a previous Six Nations match between England and Wales, the young prince playfully shrugged when asked about his allegiance, leaving his parents amused by his indecision. Prince William humorously told PEOPLE, 'It’s become quite the thing in the house,' pointing at Kate, adding: 'She is quite into it. I’m trying to stay out of it.'
Despite criticism for not attending the Lionesses World Cup final match against Spain in the past, their commitment to rugby remains steadfast.
As Prince William is also the patron of the Football Association, his sports allegiances are divided, but his love for both England's soccer and Wales' rugby teams is unwavering.
Prince William and Princess Kate's competitive spirit is not confined to rugby. Recently, the royal couple displayed their competitive edge at a SportsAid mental fitness workshop, engaging in sports like netball and goalball. George is set to follow in his father's footsteps and attend Eton. His mother, Princess Kate, takes his education very seriously and has recently taken a break from royal duties in order to support her eldest son during his exam period.
Read more:
⋙ Prince George's favourite meal is not British, here's what it is
⋙ Prince George visits Prince William's former college: Will he follow in dad's footsteps?
