FREE now and never miss the top Royal stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top Royal stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Prince William is a keen sports fan and has previously attended World Cups in the past but has made the decision not to attend this summer's event. William has turned down the opportunity to cheer on England following a high-profile suspected assassination attempt on a former Russian spy on British soil this week. The snub is particularly jarring given his position as President of the Football Association (FA).

GETTY Prince William, pictured with the England U20s, will not attend this summer's World Cup in Russia

As the investigation rumbles on and relations between Britain and Russia deteriorate, a royal source has told the Press Association: “There are no plans to attend.” The Prince did not attend the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but did travel to South Africa in 2010 for that year’s tournament. England had bid to host the 2018 World Cup but were beaten by Russia. Prince William spearheaded the campaign to host the cup.

Russia spy poisoning: Latest pictures after Sergei Skripal puts Salisbury on lockdown Thu, March 8, 2018 Russia spy poisoning: Latest pictures after Sergei Skripal puts Salisbury on lockdown. Play slideshow PA 1 of 20 Personnel in hazmat suits secure a tent covering a bench in Salisbury's Maltings shopping centre

The snub comes amid a fierce row over the poisoning of a former Russian spy. Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a nerve agent, counter-terror police believe. Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia are fighting for their lives in hospital days after being found slumped on a bench in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

GETTY You shall not pass: William making a save with his trusty left foot during a kickabout in July 2017

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the head of counter-terrorism policing, said the incident was being treated as attempted murder and the pair had been "targeted specifically". If the incident surrounding the former Russian spy is found to be the cause of an attempt on his life by Moscow, the Duke of Cambridge could be advised by the Foreign Office to avoid a trip to Russia to watch England perform in this summer’s football tournament.

GETTY Prince William reacting in 2010 to the news Russia, not England, would host the 2018 World Cup