Princess of Wales Celebrates England's Rugby World Cup Win

The Princess of Wales welcomed England's women's rugby team to Windsor Castle this week, turning a formal royal reception into a celebration featuring cowboy hats and dance moves.

England won their third Rugby World Cup in September, defeating Canada 33-13 in front of 81,885 spectators at Twickenham. The victory marked another historic moment for the Red Roses, who previously won in 1994 and 2014.

Catherine, who serves as patron of the Rugby Football Union, followed the team throughout the home World Cup campaign. She attended their pool stage victory against Australia in Brighton, where star player Ellie Kildunne placed her signature cowboy hat on the royal's head.

At Windsor Castle, that moment became an instant callback. "It was the first thing she said when she came over to our group," Kildunne shared. The Princess asked about the missing cowboy hat and even did "a bit of a cowboy dance" during their earlier encounter.

Kildunne joked about adding Catherine to her growing tattoo collection. After England's World Cup win, she famously tattooed '2025' on head coach John Mitchell.

The celebration recognized exceptional achievements beyond the trophy. Captain Zoe Stratford, two-time World Cup winner Marlie Packer, and head coach John Mitchell all received OBE honors in the New Year Honours list. Vice-captain Megan Jones, Sadia Kabeya, and Sports Personality of the Year nominee Kildunne earned MBE awards in December.

The day didn't go entirely as planned. The team arrived an hour late after their bus broke down and the driver took a wrong turn, forcing them to skip their Windsor Castle tour. They handled the hiccup with the same grace they showed on the field.

The Ripple Effect

The 2025 World Cup represented more than athletic excellence. Playing on home soil, England drew massive crowds and sparked nationwide interest in women's rugby. Prop Maud Muir showed Catherine her scrapbook from the tournament, capturing memories that inspired young athletes across the country.

Following the royal reception, the squad headed to Downing Street to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The back-to-back celebrations highlighted how women's rugby has moved from the margins to the mainstream of British sports culture.

Captain Stratford presented Catherine with a signed England shirt, a symbol of partnership between the sport and its royal patron. The Princess posed with the trophy alongside all 32 squad members, officially cementing her status as an honorary cowboy.

These champions showed that winning looks like breaking down barriers, filling stadiums, and bringing joy to millions while staying true to themselves.