As news of the passing of 52-year-old Scottish rugby union player Doddie Weir spread, the Prince and Princess of Wales sent a heartfelt message.
After ten years of national team service for Scotland, Doddie revealed in 2018 that he had been given a motor neurone disease diagnosis. After founding the charity My Name’s Doddie, the rugby player worked tirelessly to raise money for the condition’s research and to provide grants to those who were affected by it.
The Prince and Princess tweeted a heartfelt message: “We are devastated to learn of Doddie Weir’s passing because he was a hero. He was an inspiration because of his prodigious talent on the field and his never-ending efforts to spread awareness of MND.
“All of his lovers are in our thoughts. The entire rugby community will miss him terribly. W&C.”
Doddie announced earlier this year that his foundation had raised £8 million for condition research, and in 2019, he was awarded the OBE for his contributions to both motor neurone disease research and rugby.
Photo: Getty Images
In the wake of the sportsman’s passing, Princess Anne, the patron of MND Scotland, also released a moving tribute.
She penned: “What a tragic day; Doug Weir will be missed dearly. He was genuinely larger than life, tenacious, kind, and modest.
“He changed how people perceived MND and how much money was available for research. He and his family have my sincere gratitude for their generosity in sharing their experiences. My prayers and thoughts are with his entire family.”
At the conclusion of a busy week for the royal family—during which King Charles hosted his first State Visit since becoming king—the family received the sad news.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and Queen Consort Camilla made their first official state visit while carrying their new titles.
