Prince William Advocates for Female Athletes While in Wales: 'He Cares Passionately About Women's Sport'

Mar. 15, 2025

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Prince Williamspent part of his trip to Wales advocating for women in sports.

“It was incredible. The fact that he personally wanted to do this to help raise the profile to help us find the last 27 caps is just amazing," Abi Tierney, chief executive of the WRU, tells PEOPLE. “He was telling the women how much he cares passionately about women’s sport. He was talking so openly about the challenges of playing what is quite a physical sport.”

She adds of those he met that, “He put them all at ease. Hopefully, he’s raised the profile and we’ll find those last ones who we can’t find. We’re down to the last few!”

Tierney says Prince William’s involvement will help other young people “when they see somebody of his influence caring,” she says. “He said, ‘Can I ask you how they support you as women?’ We’ve done lots of research into how the menstrual cycle affects women’s ability to play and how hormones can change your muscle, and he was talking to them about that. Oh my goodness, the prince cares about that.”

Smiling, Tierney says, “You never know,[Princess] Charlottemight end up playing!”

His visit came a day after he and wifePrincess Kate, 42, appeared ina highly personal videoto announce the princess’s chemotherapy was over.

A few of the players told William “how pleased they were that Catherine had finished her treatment, and he was very grateful for that,” Tierney adds.

After handing out brooches and caps, he posed for selfies with some of the players after the presentation. One former player, Suzy Glavin, 56, played for Wales in the World Cup in 1991. “It’s lovely that he’s come,” she tells PEOPLE. “He is really down to earth. He understands it’s putting right a wrong. He said ‘I’m sorry it took us so long.’ And that means a lot.”

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Glavin, who is head of sport at Leeds University, praised William for coming just one day afterthe news about Kate.

“He’s so very genuine. He’s a family [man] who loves his children, you can see. His wife is incredibly strong and a role model herself — they both kept the fire burning in their support for the Olympics. I get the sense he recognizes the power of sport. It was very kind of him to give up his time, and I thanked him for doing so.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales are avid sports fans involved in many causes related to athletics in their royal work. On Aug. 11, the coupleappeared in a video clipto show continued support of Team Great Britain’s efforts at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“From all of us watching at home, congratulations to Team GB!” Kate said. William added, ‘Well done on all you’ve achieved. You’ve been an inspiration to us all.”

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In addition to his stop at Parc y Scarlets, Prince William also visited Swiss Valley Community Primary School and Air Ambulance’s Llanelli headquarterswhile in Wales.

source: people.com