Prince William Shares Rare Personal Message After Rugby Legend Announces Retirement

The Six Nations Championship is one of rugby’s most prestigious competitions, and Wales has won the second-most championships in Six Nations history. The team has secured 28 victories, behind only England.

Prince William supported his team during the March 14 match from the stands of Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

While William is patron of Welsh rugby, his wife, Kate Middleton, is patron of the Rugby Football Union in England, making for a friendly rivalry between the spouses. The Princess of Wales took on her patronage in February 2022.

She was appointed patron after assuming the duty from Prince Harry, whose former royal role was reassigned after he and wife Meghan Markle stepped back from their duties as working royals and moved to the U.S.

Prince William's Thursday post isn't the only time he's used his official social media accounts to discuss major news in British sports. In June 2024, the prince paid tribute on social media to rugby player Rob Burrow after he died following a diagnosis of Motor Neuron Disease.

"A legend of Rugby League, Rob Burrow had a huge heart," William wrote on X at the time. "He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.’ Catherine and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy. W"

Prince William, Prince George and Kate Middleton attend the Six Nations rugby match between England and Wales in London on Feb. 26, 2022.
Credit: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty

And in December 2025, the prince celebrated an "incredible game" after Argentina's Emi Buendía scored a winning goal in a football match against Arsenal. He wrote on X, "Surely Emi Buendia for man of the match @footballontnt ?! An incredible game! UTV! W"

More recently, William and Kate posted a joint message to X timed to the Women’s Six Nations tournament, writing that they were "wishing all the players and support staff the best of luck! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿."

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The love for rugby has extended to the couple's children, too. Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, have all developed a passion for the sport.

William once joked that his household's rivalry over rugby had become “quite the thing,” but said he was “trying to stay out of it,” according to The Sunday Times.

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