{"id":56211,"date":"2023-08-20T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-20T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/08\/20\/queen-letizia-celebrates-with-spain-after-world-cup-win-as-englands-prince-william-remains-on-other-side-of-the-world\/"},"modified":"2023-08-20T22:30:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-20T22:30:00","slug":"queen-letizia-celebrates-with-spain-after-world-cup-win-as-englands-prince-william-remains-on-other-side-of-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/08\/20\/queen-letizia-celebrates-with-spain-after-world-cup-win-as-englands-prince-william-remains-on-other-side-of-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Queen Letizia celebrates with Spain after World Cup win as England\u2019s Prince William remains on other side of the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Prince William\u2019s already controversial absence from the World Cup final on Sunday night was made even more conspicuous by the presence of Spain\u2019s Queen Letizia, who showed up to cheer on her nation and was at the centre of its victory celebrations.<\/p>\n

Queen Letizia, 50, and her 16-year-old daughter, Infanta Sofia, both watched from the stands in Sydney as Spain defeated England 1-0 to win the World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(Infanta is the title used for a daughter of the Spanish monarch who is not the heir to the throne. Sofia is second in the line of succession behind her older sister, Princess Leonor.)<\/p>\n

Letizia wore a scarlet trouser suit in a vibrant show of support for her team, known as La Roja, which means red.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Infanta Sof\u00eda is a great fan of football, a sport that she has played, and this same year she accompanied the King in the Cup final held in Sevilla,\u201d the Queen posted on Instagram before the match.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether with her sister, Princess Leonor, she also attended a match of the Spanish team in the Euros, held last year in England.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a joy, and it\u2019s exciting, to be here to support the Spanish football team. They are already champions,\u201d Letizia added when she spoke to Spain\u2019s TV1 before kick-off.<\/p>\n

The Spanish team became champions in a more literal sense shortly afterwards. Letizia and Sofia took part in the post-match presentation and then celebrated with their countrywomen, the Queen dancing jubilantly alongside them and even lifting the trophy herself.<\/p>\n

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Queen Letizia applauding ahead of the game. On the left is FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Picture: Franck Fife\/AFP<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Letizia waving to the crowd at the post-match presentation. Picture: William West\/AFP<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Queen holds the trophy aloft. Picture: William West\/AFP<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Letizia watches as her daughter, Sofia, hugs Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati. Picture: William West\/AFP<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile William, who is not only heir to the British throne but President of the English Football Association, was nowhere to be seen, having decided not to attend the match \u2013 his country\u2019s first World Cup final since the men\u2019s team last reached one in 1966.<\/p>\n

The Prince of Wales’ choice to remain on holiday with his family instead of travelling to Sydney ignited a storm of criticism, with several high profile Brits suggesting he would have attended a male World Cup final.<\/p>\n

He released a brief video message expressing support for the English team ahead of the match, with his daughter Princess Charlotte sitting alongside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cLionesses, we want to send you a huge \u2018good luck\u2019 for tomorrow,\u201d William said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are sorry we cannot be there in person, but we are so proud of everything you have achieved and the millions you\u2019ve inspired here and around the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo go out there tomorrow and really enjoy yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood luck Lionesses,\u201d added Charlotte, clutching a football in her lap.<\/p>\n

Observers have offered multiple potential reasons for William\u2019s no-show, one being that King Charles has not yet travelled to Australia since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and it might be unconstitutional for the Prince to visit before him.<\/p>\n

Another possible explanation put forward is the carbon footprint a short trip to Australia would create \u2013 though ironically, William does plan to fly to New York for just two days<\/a> next month, to announce the finalists for an environmental award.<\/p>\n

Whatever his reasoning, the English players were greeted and congratulated by the Spanish Queen on the podium after their defeat, and while Letizia celebrated with her team after the presentation, William was not present to commiserate with his.<\/p>\n

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The Queen and her daughter watching from the stands. Picture: Brendon Thorne\/Getty Images<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino watches as Letizia congratulates Aitana Bonmati. Picture: William West\/AFP<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Queen joins the celebrations. Picture: William West\/AFP<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lifting the trophy. Picture: Franck Fife\/AFP<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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There was a jubilant atmosphere \u2013 though a short distance away, England\u2019s players were despondent. Picture: William West\/AFP<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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After the trophy presentation, the Queen stayed with the players and even danced. Picture: Brendon Thorne\/Getty Images<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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England\u2019s forlorn players and coaching staff look on. Picture: David Gray\/AFP<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pauline Cope, a former England goalkeeper, was careful to avoid criticising the royal family before the game but did call William\u2019s decision not to attend the final a \u201cshame\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will not have any bad words against the royal family,\u201d said Cope.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, this should have been pencilled in his diary from day dot, after we won the Euros and qualified for the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was similarly disappointed in Britain\u2019s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who watched the final in a pub, and Gareth Southgate, coach of the men\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s be honest, if it was the men\u2019s World Cup, they would all be there,\u201d Cope said.<\/p>\n

Broadcaster Piers Morgan was among those offering harsher criticism.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith respect, Your Royal Highness, you should have got on a plane,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRidiculous that the Queen of Spain is attending the World Cup final to support her nation\u2019s team and you won\u2019t be there, despite being President of the FA.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the match, William posted a tweet about the result.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough it\u2019s the result none of us wanted, Lionesses, you have done yourselves and this nation proud,\u201d the Prince said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour spirit and drive have inspired so many people and paved the way for generations to come. Thank you for the footballing memories.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations to Spain.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Prince William\u2019s already controversial absence from the World Cup final on Sunday night was made even more conspicuous by the presence of Spain\u2019s Queen Letizia, who showed up to cheer on her nation and was at the centre of its victory celebrations. Queen Letizia, 50, and her 16-year-old daughter, Infanta Sofia, both watched from the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56212,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[2228,1800,83,1736,28036,28040,28034,20484,28038,17539,85,28039,15312,20263,1429,4311,350,1425,816,16205,28037,28042,28041,1626,1803,1533,1809,1427,1728,8792,28032,17538,28043,16490,16795,28033,2457,2902,1019,27851,26402,1856,1792,28035,20217],"class_list":{"0":"post-56211","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-agence-france-presse","9":"tag-america","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","12":"tag-british-throne","13":"tag-carbon-footprint","14":"tag-daughter-watching","15":"tag-david-gray","16":"tag-day-dot","17":"tag-duke-of-cambridge","18":"tag-england","19":"tag-english-football-association","20":"tag-english-players","21":"tag-english-team","22":"tag-europe","23":"tag-football-team","24":"tag-gareth-southgate","25":"tag-getty-images-inc","26":"tag-gianni-infantino","27":"tag-king-charles","28":"tag-leonor","29":"tag-letizia","30":"tag-literal-sense","31":"tag-new-south-wales","32":"tag-new-york","33":"tag-north-america","34":"tag-northern-america","35":"tag-northern-europe","36":"tag-oceania","37":"tag-piers-morgan","38":"tag-post-match-presentation","39":"tag-prince-william","40":"tag-princess-of-asturias","41":"tag-queen-elizabeth-ii-of-the-commonwealth-realms","42":"tag-royal-family","43":"tag-royal-highness","44":"tag-southern-europe","45":"tag-spain","46":"tag-sydney","47":"tag-the-prince-of-wales","48":"tag-trophy-presentation","49":"tag-united-kingdom","50":"tag-united-states-of-america","51":"tag-victory-celebrations","52":"tag-video-message"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56211"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56211\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}