Duke and Prince have ‘no plans’ to cheer on England side in Russia
Royal absence from the World Cup revealed amid ongoing investigation into poisoning of former spy
THE Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry have no plans to attend next summer’s football World Cup in Russia, a royal source has said.
It will be the first time in at least three tournaments that neither Prince has attended, with at least one of the brothers having cheered on England at matches in Brazil, South Africa and Germany.
The Duke’s attendance at this year’s tournament had become contentious after Sergei Skripal, the former Russian double agent, and Yulia, his daughter, were targeted by what is believed to be a nerve agent.
As president of the FA, English football’s governing body, the Duke would usually be expected to support the national team in person or with a close representative during the World Cup.
However, his involvement this year is likely to be restricted to pre-tournament visits to the squad on home soil, or messages to wish the team luck.
A source there were “no plans” for the Duke or the Prince to attend the games in Russia.
Both attended an England group match in 2010, when the tournament was hosted by South Africa.
In 2014, the Prince went alone to Brazil as part of a tour in South America in which he enjoyed a kickabout with local children and cheered England on against Costa Rica.
In Frankfurt in 2006, the Duke, then Prince William, watched England versus Paraguay, meeting fans and delivering a letter to the FA from the Queen.
The Duke played a role in England’s failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup, joining a delegation in Switzerland in 2010 to argue the case alongside David Cameron and David Beckham.
In 2002, the Duke of York watched the quarter final against Brazil in South Korea, while the Prince of Wales took the young Prince Harry to cheer Eng- land on against Colombia in France in 1998.
Earlier this week, Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, told MPS it would be “very difficult to imagine that UK representation” at the World Cup could “go ahead in the normal way” this summer.
Theresa May said the Government would “look at whether ministers and other dignitaries should attend” the sporting event during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Ministers, including Tracey Crouch, the sports minister, would be among those who would cancel plans to travel to Russia for the World Cup in July in the event of a proven link between the host nation and the alleged attack on the former spy and his daughter.
Whitehall sources said ministers were “a long way off” having to make decisions about the Duke’s travel arrangements, but did not deny that he would be advised to stay away if a boycott was in place. Kensington Palace declined to comment.
The Duke and Prince are both expected to have a busy summer, with the Duchess of Cambridge expecting her third baby in April and the Prince’s wedding to Meghan Markle in May, which also falls on the day of the FA Cup final.
This summer, the Duke will visit Israel, Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories on the request of the Foreign Office.