Just watching a bit of tennis at Wimbledon and I was struck by the number of Royal family members and associated hangers on that made the effort to be there. Strange when you consider the difficulty they have when it comes to attending a RL final.

Or are they not even asked

Makes my blood boil seeing people like that lording it up over the lower orders at Wimbledon, Ascot etc. Hope they all choke on an errant slice of lemon in their Pimms. Especially Pippa Middleton - if owning a big ar*e makes you royalty then Gareth Hock's mum must be a right fixture down buck palace.

Let's stick with the affiiliation with the armed forces at finals - people who are worthy, dignified and honest, just like RL itself.

Can't really argue with that.

That big fat chip on your shoulder is why they don't attend any more.

Pfft, no it isn't, it's because there isn't sufficient reflected publicity to be gained from getting down with the common folk over a pint of tetleys at an RL final, unlike RU for example. The only "sports" north of Watford the royals are interested in pursuing and being affiliated with are a weekend up at Balmoral blowing the f*ck out of innocent wildlife.

Don't want them. They're not worthy to be associated with our game.

Victoria Beckham's face would stop a clock. Would you really want that sat in the North Stand?

Some people don't like Rugby league, one day a few of us might just have to accept that.

Thank heavens for the voice of reason

Prince Edward has been to finals, but probably because his theatre company told him what they thought of him, so he went off in a huff, "to watch some men play"


I bet if I went onto Belle Vue Aces Speedway supporters web site, I can't imagine some Manc geezer going mental that Wills and Kate haven't shuffled their privileged Arises down to Kirkmanshulme Lane on a Monday night for "tapes up".

Maybe Prince Charles has no interest in RL.

Perhaps Lady Helen "Melons" Windsor got so urinated off that the obstruction rule only exists when a try is scored, that she got disillusioned with the game.

Maybe it's because they have other engagements

Or maybe it's because it's a game they have no interest in RL

P.S. Before the "working class massif" start, I couldn't give two stiff ones about the Royal Family

Off the top of my head, The Queen, Prince Phillip, Thatcher and Blair have all been guests and presented the cup in the past.

Some people like pies and peas whilst others like caviare. That's just life.

But surely that's part of the Royals job description... and why we pay them. It's not for them to decide which sporting events they go to in their official capacity.

The royals are worth about 50p per person in this country. Take 50p off the price of a ticket I'll be fine.

Imagine seeing royalty in the Royal box.

Didn't Peter Phillips present the cup recently? To which everyone moaned - why's he presenting it?

They can't really win.

Given the work Prince Charles does for the under privileged via his charity, the Queen from everything I've very seen is pretty thrifty on the whole - I'd say they're pretty good value and also keep the symbols of power away from politicians which is a good thing and one of the many constitutional benefits of not having a politician as your Head of State.

I'd say the Royal Family are far more committed and interested in the people of this country than the politicians are.

Who cares??

Benefit cheats the lot of 'em.

The Queen has been to a rugby league final and never returned after it was sponsored by a cigarette company. The RFL constantly looked at tobacco and now alcohol but promote it as a family sport. Hypocrisy at its best and I don't blame them for no longer attending.

I pay council tax, should I expect my local mp to go?

Teresa Villiers presenting the cup?

Couldn't give a shiny one about the Royal Family. Don't need any of them there to make the event more official. Quite happy with someone in the public eye who enjoys RL (Wiggins), a past player/coach, or even one of our Armed Forces heroes presenting the trophy.

You can stick your MP's and the Royal Family up yer jacksie.

If you want to talk about hypocrisy, the Queen Mum & Princess Margaret were no stranger to the odd tipple or fifteen, complimented by a dozen fags and Price William, whilst publically supporting the WWF and wallowing in the associated goodwill, regularly nips out to blow the f**k out of any deer, grouse, foxes or working class people unfortunate to cross his path.

Every single member of the Armed forces are worthier and more deserved nominations to appear at RL finals as guest of honour, and are also synonymous with the values the game is associated with - honesty, integrity and grit.

Yours, Morrisseyisawire c/o Tower of London.

Spot on

I think supporters of every sport should expect royal visitors every now & then ,we are all the Queen's subjects & deserve mutual respect from our monarchy. There must be many minority sports that would benefit from having a royal in the stands occasionally. They are no strangers to Rugby Union so why not at least get one along to watch the Broncos when they are on sky? ....it's only just down the road.

Just because we don't like Union it doesn't mean they don't, they might actually go to just watch the Union in which they enjoy.

William watches Aston Villa ffs, should Birmingham or West Brom fans start crying he doesn't watch them now?

It makes my blood boil at the right-wing media's constant love-in with our Armed Forces 'heroes' - What makes them any more a hero than a nurse, fireman, paramedic, etc?

Personally, I don't see what's heroic about signing up for a job which sees you inflicting western democratic values on people who haven't requested any help.

As for being worthy, dignified and honest, the truth is, a large number of them are nutjobs - Witness the amount of bother they get into when back in civvies and also the behaviour of some on duty when they believe the cameras are switched off.

What about the many royals who have served in the forces?

I know it's trendy and risqué to come out with all this Russell Brand nonsense, particularly amongst self loathing middle class types but it just makes you sound like a bit of a plonker. We have arguably the greatest and oldest democracy in the world which we are lucky to be able to take for granted.