Who cares if Prince William isn’t at the World Cup final?

It is absurd to suggest that Prince William’s non-attendance at the Women’s World Cup final in Australia on Sunday is some great public scandal. He faces growing pressure to cut short his family holiday and jet over to Australia pronto. Some critics have even gone as far as to claim that, if William doesn’t do so, he will somehow be guilty of letting the side – and by implication the nation – down. 

The argument goes something like this. As president of the Football Association – the suits who run the English game – the heir to the throne is responsible for promoting the sport nationally and internationally at all levels.

Well, so what? Nowhere in the small print does it say that this means he must be present at every big event. William was at the final when the Lionesses won the Euros against Germany last year, and made headlines by hugging captain Leah Williamson and her teammates during the medal presentation.