Prince William and Kate for Mental Health Day

The Prince and Princess of Wales are taking a few weeks away from royal engagements to spend time with their children during the Easter holidays

he Prince and Princess of Wales have interrupted their Easter holidays to issue an important joint message.

William, 43, and Kate, 44, who live in Forest Lodge in Windsor with their children, Prince GeorgePrincess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, are preparing for an “unforgettable” weekend.

Taking to social media for their first personal message in weeks, the couple wrote an encouraging note for rugby players in the Women’s Six Nations tournament this weekend.

“As the Women’s Six Nations gets underway this weekend, wishing all the players and support staff the best of luck!” the couple wrote on Friday.

Signing the message with their initials, W & C, they added: “Here’s to an exciting start to the tournament and some unforgettable rugby. W & C.”

This weekend, England’s Red Roses are set to take on Ireland. The other fixtures will be Wales vs Scotland and France vs Italy.

Rugby fans – with a dash of healthy rivalry!

Both William and Kate are huge rugby fans, although they support different teams. Prince William has served as the Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union since 2016, succeeding his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Meanwhile, Kate was appointed as the official Royal Patron of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League in 2022. She took over the roles from Prince Harry, becoming the patron for both the men’s and women’s England teams.

This means William traditionally supports Wales, while Kate supports England, leading to a dash of healthy rivalry whenever the tournament is on. This year, England is set to play Wales on 25 April, meaning Forest Lodge will be abuzz with tension.

In March, the couple headed to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to watch England and Wales play, both cheering on their respective teams.

The Wales kids looked grown up on Easter morning © Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
The Wales kids looked grown up on Easter morning

Rugby is a big part of life in the royal family, as Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara, even married former rugby star, Mike Tindall. Mike has even said Kate has “natural” talent on the rugby pitch, and Prince Louis, seven, is also known to be a fan of the sport.

Prince William and Kate’s Easter holidays

Prince George and Kate at Easter© Getty Images
Prince George and Kate at Easter

William and Kate are taking a few weeks away from public engagements during the school Easter holidays. This is so they can spend time with their three children during their break from their studies at Lambrook School. The family often disappears over Easter, sometimes heading to their Norfolk abode, Anmer Hall.

However, the family did attend last weekend’s Easter service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor for the first time since 2023, joining King Charles, Queen Camilla, and other members of the royal family for the special occasion.