The Princess of Wales showed her unwavering support for her husband, Prince William, as he competed in the prestigious Royal Charity Polo Cup 2023 in Windsor yesterday.
The annual match, held at the Guards Polo Club, was a significant event that aimed to raise funds for various charities and causes close to the hearts of the royal couple.
Prince William’s homelessness charities and Princess Kate’s dedicated support for the East Anglia Children’s Hospices were among the causes that benefited from the event.
Additionally, a baby bank charity was also included in the list of organizations that received support.
In total, the Royal Charity Polo Day managed to raise an impressive $1.2 million, bringing the cumulative amount raised over the past 12 years to more than $15 million.
The event saw the participation of esteemed charities like Mental Health Innovations, Wales Air Ambulance, Centrepoint, The Passage, Mountain Rescue England and Wales, Foundling Museum, Forward Trust, East Anglia Children’s Hospices, Baby Basics, Little Village, and Abba Necessities.
These organizations were grateful for the substantial contributions made through the Royal Charity Polo Cup 2023.
Prince William played for the US Polo Association team during the match, while his brother, Prince Harry, was not invited to participate.
At the end of the game, Princess Kate took to the field to present Prince William with the coveted trophy, marking a moment of pride and celebration for the royal couple.
Notably, the United States Polo Association, in collaboration with its licensing partner in the United Kingdom, Brand Machine Group, served as the official apparel and team sponsor for the 2022 Royal Charity Polo Cup.
This partnership further highlighted the significance and international reach of the event.
In a surprising turn of events, it seems that Prince Harry’s polo days are behind him.
Last year, he played polo with Nacho’s team in a league, which garnered significant attention.
However, it appears that he is no longer part of the team, as his name has been absent from the roster since last year.
Interestingly, unlike his brother, Prince William, who refrains from using spurs on his polo pony, Prince Harry had previously borrowed two polo ponies from renowned Argentinian player Nacho Figueras.
Unfortunately, when Harry returned the horses, they were ill and in poor condition.
This incident led to the Figueras family cutting ties with the harkles and subsequently getting them expelled from the Santa Barbara Polo Club, where the Figueras are esteemed members.
Moreover, it seems that financial constraints may have played a role in Prince Harry’s departure from the polo scene.
Polo is an incredibly expensive sport, with costs amounting to approximately $100,000 per year, including club fees, pony upkeep, and tournament expenses.
It appears that Prince Harry’s financial situation does not allow him to sustain such costly involvement.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that Prince William has always been considered the superior polo player between the two brothers.
Observing recent pictures of Nacho Figueras, who is older than Prince Harry, it is evident that he maintains an impressive level of fitness, comparable to that of Prince William.
On the other hand, Prince Harry appears to have let himself go, displaying a noticeable paunch and a perpetual hangover-like appearance in photographs where he isn’t wearing sunglasses.