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Princess of Wales Honors England’s Rugby World Cup Champions
Windsor Castle was the setting for a celebratory reception hosted by The Princess of Wales on January 15, 2026, recognizing the remarkable achievement of England’s women’s rugby union team.The team secured a decisive victory over Canada with a score of 33-13 in September, claiming their third World Cup title in front of a crowd of 81,885 at Twickenham stadium [[1]].
Royal Recognition and National Pride
As a patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), The Princess of wales met with the entire 32-player squad, alongside RFU officials and staff. The reception acknowledged not only the team’s on-field success but also their inspiring performance throughout the home World Cup campaign. Her Royal Highness had previously attended England’s pool stage match against Australia in Brighton, demonstrating her consistent support.
Honors for Key Players and Staff
The celebration coincided with the recent recognition of several team members in the New Year Honours list.Captain Zoe Stratford, Marlie Packer, a two-time World Cup winner, and head coach john Mitchell were all appointed Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) [[2]]. Vice-captain Megan Jones, back row Sadia kabeya, and Sports Personality of the Year nominee Ellie Kildunne were awarded Members of the order of the British Empire (MBE) in December, acknowledging their individual contributions to the team
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