Gabby Logan faced days of online abuse following a remark on the BBC where she referred to the Princess of Wales by the wrong title
BBC presenter Gabby Logan was accused of being anti-Royal after failing to refer to Kate Middleton by her title, the Princess of Wales. On the Sports Agents podcast, Logan, alongside Mark Chapman and Nedum Onuoha, discussed the string of celebrities spotted in the crowds at the World Cup, currently taking place across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Logan’s confession came after her Match of the Day colleague Chapman claimed that he had been left baffled by some of the famous faces during his own broadcasts. Chapman said: “Occasionally on some live games that I’ve done, when you do the build-up and occasionally they’ve then cut someone up in the crowd.
“And I’ve looked at it and thought, I’ve absolutely no idea. And then they’ll tell me in my ear who it is. And I’m thinking, I still have absolutely no idea who that is. I can’t mention it in case I pronounce it wrong, or heaven forbid, look out of touch.”
Logan added: “I hate them doing that and not knowing, though, don’t you? Like, I then kind of want to know why we’re cutting this person? If I don’t know who they are, please tell me so that I can.
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“I did know this person when it was cut up once at a rugby game. It was Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales, but I didn’t call her that.
“I said, ‘Oh, Kate Middleton is in the house’. Can I tell you how many days of abuse I got from mainly American-based accounts telling me that basically I needed to be beheaded because I was anti-Royal. I ‘didn’t realise how incredible this woman was’. I mean, she has got a loyal fan base.”
The Princess of Wales has been a familiar face at numerous sporting occasions over the years, establishing herself as something of a devoted attendee. Her love of sport was showcased at Wimbledon in 2013, when Andy Murray claimed the title for the very first time.
The Royal was unable to be present, being heavily pregnant with Prince George at the time. She later opened up to former BBC sports presenter Sue Barker in the documentary Our Wimbledon about just how desperately she had wanted to be there.
“I was very heavily pregnant with George so I wasn’t able to turn up,” she said. Sue replied: “But you had a great excuse,” to which the Princess said: “I know but even still. I was sort of, ‘Maybe I could go’ but the doctors were like ‘No.’ I wrote to [Andy Murray] afterwards saying sorry for not being there, but huge congratulations.”
This year’s World Cup has proved one of the most star-studded tournaments in living memory, with cameras frequently struggling to capture all the celebrity faces filling the stands at nearly every fixture.
A string of celebrities have already been pictured soaking up the atmosphere at matches, including Hollywood heavyweights Salma Hayek, Tom Cruise, Owen Wilson and Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds. Hip-hop legend Jay Z and Travis Scott have also been spotted in the stands, alongside American football icon Tom Brady.
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