Prince William Faces Backlash For Not Attending 2023 Women’s World Cup Final

 

Prince William, serving as the president of the Football Association, is under significant scrutiny for his absence at the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney, where England is competing against Spain on August 20.

Despite sending a personal congratulatory message via Twitter to The Lionesses (England’s team) for their impressive win over Australia, it’s been revealed that Prince William has opted not to attend due to the potential environmental impact of flying a considerable distance for a brief visit. Such a journey could contribute over three tonnes of carbon dioxide to his personal carbon footprint.

Prince William’s commitment to addressing climate change is a driving factor in his decision to forgo the trip, as taking such a long flight would result in a substantial carbon footprint. Calculations suggest that he would have generated around 3.3 tonnes of emissions by taking a premium cabin flight from Heathrow to Sydney, with a layover in Singapore. This concern aligns with the larger issue of travel emissions for the Royal Family, which totaled 2,857 tonnes in the year 2022.

The decision, however, has not shielded Prince William from mounting criticism. The absence of Prince William at the major sporting event contrasts with the attendance of Queen Letizia of Spain and her daughter. This has led to accusations of double standards, especially considering Prince William’s presence at the men’s Euro 2020 final. While Prince William did attend the Women’s FA Cup final earlier in the year and the 2022 Women’s Euro final at Wembley, his absence from this particular event has sparked significant debate.