As soon as Prince Harry & Meghan Markle announced their wedding date, people were pointing out that Harry sort of screwed over his brother. Prince William is president of England’s Football Association, you see, and Saturday is the big FA Cup final. It’s a really, really big deal in England. And William’s status as president has already been criticized by some in British sports, because like everything else, William barely shows up. So now that the wedding is upon us, people are asking again: is it possible that William will skip out of his brother’s wedding a little bit early so he can attend at least part of the FA Cup final?
While fans of the royal family might consider Saturday’s royal wedding their Super Bowl, the U.K.’s actual version of the big game is also taking place the day of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s nuptials: the FA Cup final.
As the president of England’s Football Association, Prince William typically attends the soccer match and hands out the trophy to the winning team. But on Saturday, he’ll be serving as his younger brother’s best man. Though there has been speculation that William may dip out of the wedding festivities to make it to the game, scheduled for 12:15 p.m U.K. time, the royal will be staying put on his brother’s big day.
“The Duke’s responsibilities as Best Man mean that he will not be able to attend the FA Cup Final,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson tells PEOPLE.
I wouldn’t have thought this would be THAT big of a deal, but I always forget that football is basically a religion in Great Britain, and it’s more than possible that British viewership for the FA Cup final will be bigger than British viewership for the wedding. That being said… it is what it is. And while William can and should be criticized for not showing up to other events (like the BAFTAs) when he really doesn’t have an excuse, in this particular case, he has an excellent excuse. His brother’s wedding is OF COURSE more important than a football game.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Man United vs Chelsea! May the stadium open up and swallow up both teams, tbh.
Well put. I’m normally the first one to criticise William for being lazy, but I don’t blame him here. Pretty much everyone who is not a fan of either team hates them both.
Footy in Celebitchy, what fun!
I hope they both lose.
I am so over this wedding, I totally would skip out and drink some beer in the stadium
Actually, thanks to the sterling reputation of football fans in the UK, I’m pretty sure there will be no alcohol served. I know there are some towns where the nearest pubs to a football club actually close on match day.
Sorry to burst your bubble !
I thought the wedding was today and was happy to get it off all the news cycles once the dress was IDd and pictures were released.
Another day of drama to go
Futbol is a religion in ALL of Europe. Americans are the same with their watered down version of rugby.
We had tvs playing the World cup final at our wedding because my European family would have caused a riot lol.
Same in South America. You do not mess with football’s schedule. And I hate that lol cause I don’t like football at all (unless the argentine team is playing, of course)
Hahaha watered down version of rugby! I love it. I am not a US football fan and I only tune in for the halftime show of the Superbowl. I never understood why the sport is so revered here.
Totally understandable he would skip the final! Glory, Glory Man United!! Lets go MUFC!
Yep, go Man UUUUUUUUUU!!
I don’t think this would be a story at all if he didn’t have a reputation for being lazy and avoiding work in general. I think most people understand that his brother’s wedding takes precedence, obviously. Like you said Kaiser this isn’t like all those years he skipped the BAFTAs because he didn’t want to go.
Exactly. If he had a reputation for good attendance, it would have been basically meaningless to miss it this one time, especially for his brothers wedding.
Harry knew exactly what he was doing by putting the date of the wedding for tomorrow.
We have two bank holiday weekends in May (first and last Monday) so he could have picked one of those weekends to get married.
The date of the FA Cup final is known at the beginning of the season in August so yes, for me, Harry has screwed his brother over.
Also having a Royal Wedding and FA Cup final on the same day is a NIGHTMARE for security and emergency services. They are stretched to the limit, underfunded and understaffed. You would think someone would have told Harry this when picking the date?
One last thing: the FA Cup Final is a religion here and millions more people will watch it than the wedding. That’s not to take anything away from the Royal Family just that when it comes to football (proper way of calling it), we live for it.
I’on know…with the way Harry’s Grandfather’s health has been acting up the last year…I’m sure he wanted to get it done…ASAP!!!!! If it weren’t for Kate’s pregnancy…it would have happened even earlier I’m sure…
I agree with Lala. I think Prince Phil’s health was taken into consideration, and I think the wedding would have been sooner if possible, too. I don’t think this is a way for Harry to steal Will’s thunder, etc. It’s possible this date was the earliest the wedding could have happened, all things considered.
William looks so much Diana, while Harry looks like a ginger and young Prince Phillip.
Does anyone here follow the Gary Janetti Instagram account?
YES – his account is hilarious
It’s amazing. I love when people get all offended.
Is tumblr still a thing? I remember when Kate got married there was this tumblr – KateMiddletonFTW – and that thing was hilarious on their wedding day. Lots of champagne and throwing things when she became a duchess. HA.
Yes!! I wish it would come back (on Instagram perhaps??) it birthed great classics, such as this one
http://katemiddletonforthewin.tumblr.com/image/13160480765
” Prince William typically attends” No he doesn’t. The ex-manager of the English team criticised him a couple of years back because he never turned up for anything. It got kinda hidden becuase he talked shit about other stuff, but he never turned up to meetings even when it had been planned he’d be there.
I remember that. The manager was annoyed that they have to pander to William and he *still* didn’t show up.
What amazes me about those anecdotes of lazy royals is that the only real and meaningful conclusion never gets reached: whether they’re here or not, the job still gets done. Because all those occupations royals allegedly have -president of this, chair of that, head of the committee of X- are nothing but hot air. They do bugger all and have zero real responsibility. Royals showing up, royals not showing up… Same difference. That’s why things work just as well if not better in non-monarchical countries: charities don’t need royal patrons to exist, collect money and operate, sports associations don’t require the presence of a royal to do their work, etc.
Yuuuuppppppppppp!
Exactly, the idea that the UK would cease to function without the Royals is frankly insulting to the good people if the UK. Ridiculous.
Word.