The Prince and Princess of Wales have broken their silence on social media as the British monarchy faces renewed scrutiny over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a show of support for British athletes, Prince William and Kate Middleton returned to the public spotlight after the men’s curling team secured a place in the gold medal final at the Winter Olympics. Following a hard-fought semifinal against Switzerland, Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan Jr., and Bobby Lammie claimed an 8 to 5 victory in Milano Cortina.
The team will now compete against Canada for gold on Saturday, with a chance to stand at the top of the podium. Ahead of the final, William and Kate shared a message of encouragement on social media.
“Best of luck in the final, Bruce, Grant, Hammy and Bobby! We will be cheering you on,” the royals wrote in the comments section of a post shared on Team GB’s official Instagram account. The Prince and Princess of Wales personally signed the message with their initials, W and C, representing William and Catherine.
© teamgbTheir public message coincided with the detention of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor on Thursday morning, suspected of misconduct in public office. King Charles III addressed the development in a statement, expressing his deepest concern.
© Getty ImagesA shared passion for curling
In the run-up to the Winter Olympics, the Prince and Princess of Wales spent time with members of Team GB’s men’s and women’s curling squads. About a fortnight before the Games began, the couple visited the National Curling Academy in Stirling, Scotland, where they were given a tour of the facilities. They also stepped onto the ice with Scottish curler Jen Dodds and her mixed doubles partner, Bruce Mouat, who has since secured a place in the men’s final.
© Getty ImagesIn an exclusive interview with our sister brand HELLO!, Bruce, 31, reflected on the visit, stating, “I was truly awestruck.” They walked into the ice rink just like two normal people would.”
© Getty ImagesHe added, “It was so cool, having the Prince and Princess shaking hands with us, chatting and wishing us good luck. I thought it was really special that they came along, and I was honoured to have the opportunity to teach them how to curl.”
Jen concurred, stating, “I could sense their slight nervousness.” They did well for their first time on the ice, even if it’s not normal to slide around. I was impressed by both of them.”
Strong ties to rugby and beyond
Sport has long played a central role in the Prince and Princess of Wales’s public work, with rugby holding particular significance. Since 2022, Kate has served as royal patron of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League, while William has been patron of the Welsh Rugby Union since 2016.
© Getty ImagesEarlier this month, ahead of the England v. Wales Six Nations match at Twickenham, the couple issued a joint message backing both teams. “Wishing England and Wales the best of luck as they face off today at Twickenham in the Men’s Six Nations Championship,” they wrote on their official Instagram account, adding, “As patrons of both unions respectively, may the best team win.” England went on to secure a 48 to 7 victory over Wales.
Their sporting interests extend well beyond rugby. William, as president of the Football Association, is a familiar presence at major fixtures and a vocal supporter of grassroots football. Kate, meanwhile, is a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and regularly attends Wimbledon, where she presents the championship trophies. Through these roles, the couple continues to champion British sport at every level.
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