Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We’ll inspire kids
Movie star Sheen asks why Wills backs England
WALES star Gareth Bale spoke of inspiring the next generation as he prepares for his World Cup debut.
The 33-year-old said: “For me, watching the World Cup I never had a team to support. For the kids now to have Wales, their country, to watch is incredible and definitely will inspire them.
“Everybody has their opinion on what success is and I think for us… we go in there with 100% commitment.
“We’ll do everything we can to get out of the group and go as far as we can.”
Holding the title Prince of Wales while supporting England is inappropriate MICHAEL SHEEN ON WILLIAM’S SPORTING LOYALTIES
WELSH film star Michael Sheen has hit out at Prince William for supporting England in the World Cup while he is Prince of Wales.
Wales and England are due to meet in the group stages of the Qatar tournament on November 29.
William, who is President of the Football Association, visited the England players on Monday to hand out their squad numbers before they jetted off to the Middle East.
The heir to the throne, 40, told the team: “The country is behind you”, later adding: “I’ll see you in the final”.
But award-winner Sheen, 53, whose rousing speech to the Welsh squad which went viral ahead of their World Cup appearance, said yesterday: “William can, of course, support whoever he likes and as President of FA his role makes his visit understandable –but surely he sees holding the title Prince of Wales at same time is entirely inappropriate.
“Not a shred of embarrassment? Or sensitivity to the problem here?”
Sources close to William have said he is “aware” of the sensitivities of taking the title in September after the Queen’s death.
But courtiers insist William and his wife Kate, now Princess of Wales, want to “deepen” their understanding of issues that matter most to the Welsh.
In a sign of his dual role, the Prince yesterday visited the Welsh Senedd in Cardiff and tried his hand at a few words of Welsh, which he is said to be learning.
William, patron of the Welsh Rugby
Union since 2016, described the delicate balancing of his sporting allegiances: “I’m telling everyone I’m supporting both, definitely. I can’t lose.
“I’ve supported England since I’ve been quite small. But I support Welsh rugby and that’s my way of doing it. I happily support Wales over England in the rugby. I’ve got to play carefully with my affiliations.
“If I suddenly drop England to support Wales that doesn’t look right for the sport either.”
The Prince also addressed calls for him to learn Welsh, saying: “I need to brush up on mine.
“I can do Bore Da (good morning). I’m very happy to speak a bit of Welsh, I just won’t be able to do much.” There are currently no plans for William to follow his father with a formal investiture as Prince of Wales. Queen Elizabeth bestowed the title on King Charles at Caernarfon Castle in July 1969. russell.myers@mirror.co.uk @rjmyers SHEEP KNOW MORE...: PAGE 28