Kate and William battle each other as Wales take on England in rugby’s Six Nations in Cardiff

The Prince and Princess of Wales cheer on opposing sides at the Wales v England Six Nations match, after they were spotted greeting injured players ahead of the game at Principality Stadium today.

Kate, 43, patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and Prince William, 42, who has been patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) since 2016, are both in attendance at the highly anticipated rugby game.

Although the sporting rivalry on the pitch is deep-rooted, spanning over several decades, the competition between the royal couple is likely much more light-hearted as they backed their respective patronages in Cardiff today.  

In what could be construed as a show of friendship in the sport, the Wales’s were sat between Rob Udwin, president of England’s RFU, and Terry Cobner, president of the WRU, with both royals positioned next to the head of their respective patronage. 

Ahead of the match, the Prince and Princess of Wales met injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust.

The royals chatted with injured players inside the Sir Tasker Watkins Suite, a space at the Principality Stadium which is dedicated for use by the players and their families ahead of matches.

The beaming couple looked animated as they spoke to injured players – both in overcoats for the chilly Cardiff weather – which sat at a chilly 7C – before taking their seats for the match. 

Outside, William appeared to be wearing a red scarf the same shade as the strip worn by the Welsh rugby team to show his support for the side. 

William is patron of the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, which was set up to help players who have been severely injured while playing rugby in Wales, and their loved ones, inviting them to every Wales home game and hosting an annual family day. 

They officially opened the suite, named after a former Welsh Lord Chief Justice and World War II veteran who was later president of of the Welsh Rugby Union, prior to attending England and Wales’ previous Six Nations clash on February 25.

Kate took over the role with the RFU from her brother-in-law Prince Harry in 2022, who was forced to give up the patronage as part of the Megxit agreement.

The Princess of Wales, who grew up watching rugby with her family, is known as one of the sportiest members of the Royal Family, and has gamely taken on her husband in everything from dragon boating to wind buggy racing at royal engagements.

She has played tennis and hockey from a young age and is already royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and is a frequent visitor to the Wimbledon Championships.

While her love and passion for hockey has been well publicised, less well known is her family’s love of rugby. 

Her sister, Pippa, wrote in Vanity Fair magazine in 2014: ‘Rugby was a big thing for our family, we’d plan our weekends around the big matches.’

In the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential podcast, Jo Elvin joked that the Wales family ‘may need a referee in house’ for the game – which forms part of the Six Nations Championship.

It’s unclear whether the royal children –  Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six – are also split on which team they support: Wales for William, or England for Kate.

In fact, on Mike Tindall’s podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, Prince William did joke that the question of which team the children support has become ‘quite the thing’ at home.

He said: ‘It’s become quite the thing in the house. [Catherine] is quite into it. I’m trying to stay out of it.’

Previously in 2023, William remarked it would be a ‘tense journey home’ with his wife after a Six Nations Wales v England match in Cardiff. 

It’s thought that George, Charlotte and Louis will watch the game in Windsor today. 

Kate is gradually returning to public duties after revealing she is in remission from cancer. 

She is also set to appear at an engagement with the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day in London on Monday.

William’s love of various sport has also been well-documented, famously, a huge fan of Aston Villa after being taken to matches as a youngster.

He told the BBC in 2015 that he didn’t want to follow ‘run of the mill teams’ such as Chelsea and Manchester United like his classmates.

The Prince, who is also patron of the Football Association, told the broadcaster: ‘I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional roller-coaster moments.’

William has also been showcasing his respect and love for Welsh culture in his role as the Prince of Wales whilst delivering his St David’s Day message entirely in the country’s native language on March 1.

He revealed last year that he had been using Duolingo to practice whilst on the go since he was named Prince of Wales in 2022 the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.

Tonight’s clash comes after Ireland narrowly won 22-17 against Italy earlier today- a week on from their crushing defeat at the hands of France.

As it stands, England remains in contention for the title but need a win tonight and for France to go down against Scotland. 

However for Wales a victory is likely needed to avoid going home with the wooden spoon after a less than fruitful Six Nations season. 

Scotland and France are set to face off at Stade de France in Paris at 8pm today.