The Princess of Wales has personally honoured England's triumphant women's rugby team, the Red Roses, with a special reception at Windsor Castle. Kate, who is patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), hosted the squad to celebrate their victory in the Rugby World Cup last autumn.
A Royal Salute to Sporting Excellence
The event saw the World Cup trophy take centre stage as the Princess welcomed the players and senior leadership of the RFU. Among the distinguished guests were captain Zoe Stratford, vice-captain Megan Jones, and head coach John Mitchell, all of whom were appointed OBEs in the New Year Honours for their services to rugby.
They were joined by double World Cup winner and vice-captain Marlie Packer, standout back row Sadia Kabeya, and Sports Personality of the Year nominee Ellie Kildunne, who all received MBEs. The team arrived at the Castle wearing their distinctive matching Red Roses suits and brought their gold medals to the celebration.
Overcoming Travel Troubles for a Royal Meet
The visit did not start without a hitch. The players' coach broke down on the way, causing a delay and forcing the cancellation of a planned private tour of Windsor Castle ahead of their meeting with the Princess. Players including Maud Muir and Hannah Botterman were pictured arriving at the Castle, taking shelter from the rain before being greeted by Kate.
The Princess has been a steadfast supporter of the team throughout their campaign. In her role as RFU patron, she watched from the stands when they defeated Australia in a pool match in Brighton. Her commitment was further demonstrated when she later joined the players for a celebratory sing-song in the changing rooms, sharing in their immediate joy.
A Historic Victory for Women's Rugby
The Red Roses' World Cup win marked a significant milestone for the sport. In the final, played at a sold-out Twickenham, they beat Canada 33-13 in front of a record crowd of 81,885 spectators. This victory secured England's third World Cup title, adding to previous wins in 2014 and 1994.
The journey of the women's Rugby World Cup itself reflects the growth of the game. The first competition was held in 1991, and it gained official backing from the International Rugby Board at the third event in 1998. The 2022 final's record attendance is a powerful testament to how far women's rugby has come.
Also present at the Windsor Castle reception was Deborah Griffin, who will become the 2025 President of the RFU. Ms Griffin, the first female president appointed to the voluntary annual role, was there to congratulate the team on their monumental achievement.
