Why Kate - our future Queen - should be Patron is a clear manifestation of what's wrong with the relationship between the Royal family and sport.

Recently visiting Wigan to see her first game! And will probably be Commander in Chief of a military regiment next - despite never having served.

Just like the rest of the Royals - none of whom have seen service or conflicts, except Andrew and Harry. Now forgotten - replaced by cardboard cutouts.

A Patron is someone who gives financial or other support to a cause or organisation, not someone who has risen through the ranks or necessarily worked for the organisation. That person already exists: chairman/ceo/director/General...

Not sure what your point is.

Perhaps we'll see her storming round the pitch in due course, sporting a broken nose and cauliflower ears!

It doesn't look as if she's Commander in Chief of a military regiment yet. Reports in April (for whatever they were worth - speculation?) seem to be the latest on that, e.g. Kate is tipped to replace Prince Andrew as the next Colonel of the Grenadier Guards - as Duchess is 'seriously considered' to stand in for the Queen at Sandhurst's Sovereign’s Parade, says insider

I expect that the royals are patrons of lots of things they don't have personal experience of but are expected to show an interest in. I don't know how they can get through all the hand-shaking, small talk and ribbon-cutting. It must be terribly tedious.

Wyot wrote:
A Patron is someone who gives financial or other support to a cause or organisation

What remotely credible support could Kate give to rugby league, a regiment or anything else?

Royal patronage is a complete anachronism. Patrons should, at least, have a connection - even tenuous.

Lloyd Webber for the theatre/music, for instance; Shearer/Ferguson for the Premier League etc.

Gester wrote:
[quote]Wyot wrote:


Royal patronage is a complete anachronism.

Royalty is a complete anachronism so it would be...

Slimmed down Royal families have a place in the modern lives of the 12 European countries that retain them.

For reasons which include pageantry, history, celebration, tourism, honours and national identity/pride.

Few visit Monaco without visiting the Grimaldi home - and most visitors to SE England will go to Buckingham Palace and/or Windsor.

Gester wrote:
Slimmed down Royal families have a place in the modern lives of the 12 European countries that retain them.



Yes they would have wouldn't they; as they have retained them...

Barney's brain doesn't function like ours do.