Prince William's Solo Saudi Tour Highlights Women's Football Progress
More than 4,000 miles from home, Prince William is undertaking a significant three-day diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, a trip that has underscored his role as Britain's future king while revealing a personal touch with local communities. The prince's journey, focused on strengthening UK-Saudi relations, included a poignant moment with young female football players in Riyadh, who were eager to meet the royal couple but learned that Princess Catherine would not be joining her husband.
A Heartwarming Exchange on the Pitch
At Misk Sports City, Prince William participated in a training session with youth squads of girls aged ten to 15, aiming to learn about the importance of women's participation in sports. In a tender interaction captured on video, a young player tentatively raised her hand and asked the Prince of Wales, "Did Princess Kate come with you?" William, leaning down to engage with her, responded warmly, "No, she's not here sadly," to which the disappointed child replied, "aw."
Another player suggested that William bring his family on a future visit, prompting the prince to say, "They would love it here. Will you show them how to play football? My children love football, but you guys are another level." He added with a smile, "I can see you guys will be at the World Cup very soon, and then you're going to make me feel very old."
William's Football Skills and Gifts for His Children
During the visit, William dusted off his football boots and accepted a challenge to hit the crossbar with three shots. Instead, he scored all three balls into the net, showcasing his athleticism. He told the group, "This is my first time in Saudi Arabia. Have any of you ever been to the UK? You know the weather's different - cold and rainy but you have the sunshine here all the time."
As a parting gift, the female athletes presented William with a Saudi national shirt and smaller versions for his three children—Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte—with their names printed on the back. William expressed his gratitude, noting, "My children love sport so the more they can get involved and get more active, the better."
Diplomatic Context and Women's Sports Progress
The prince's tour, considered his biggest diplomatic test to date, was undertaken at the request of the British Government to bolster ties with Saudi Arabia, a key Middle East ally. He met with Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) for an intimate dinner, where they discussed the UK-Saudi bilateral relationship. William gifted MBS an England shirt signed and worn by captain Harry Kane.
During his visit, William was greeted by Dr. Majid bin Al Qassabi, Minister of Commerce, and Prince Abdulaziz, Minister of Sport, along with representatives from the Misk Foundation. Lamia Bahaian, vice president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, provided an overview of women's football in the kingdom. According to Saudi officials, women's sports participation has increased by 150% since 2016, with over 330,000 registered female athletes nationwide. This marks a significant shift, as women were prohibited from attending sporting events until 2018, and female physical education only began in 2017.
Epstein Scandal Overshadows the Tour
Despite the positive engagements, William's trip has been somewhat overshadowed by the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. On Monday, Kensington Palace stated that the Prince and Princess of Wales were "deeply concerned" about the "continued revelations" and that their thoughts "remain focused on the victims." During the Saudi visit, a man shouted a question about the Royal Family's response to the Andrew and Epstein issue, but it remains unclear if William heard it, as the shout was reasonably far away.
William also visited an environmentally sustainable urban regeneration project and spoke with students, highlighting broader aspects of his diplomatic mission. Both London and Riyadh are optimistic that this visit will help set the tone for future Anglo-Saudi relations, leveraging the connection between William and the Saudi leadership.
