With its heady mix of horses, competition and tradition, polo, nicknamed the Sport of Kings, has captivated Britain’s male royalty for decades.
Their wives and girlfriends also often get involved, with biographer Andrew Morton describing it as “a royal rite of passage” for female members of the Royal Family in his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess.
Queen Elizabeth II often cheered on Prince Philip, as did Princess Diana when Prince Charles played.
The Duchess of Sussex’s first public appearance with Prince Harry was at a polo match, while Kate greeted Prince William after the match with a kiss.
Harry’s new five-part Netflix documentary, titled Polo, will be released soon and will shine the spotlight on the sport’s world-class players.
King George VI introduced polo to the royal family and enjoyed watching and playing the game.
The Duke of York, later crowned King George VI, playing in a polo match at the Ranelagh Club in south-west London in 1922.
Prince William, pictured with Prince Harry, aims for the ball during a match at the Beaufort Club in the Cotswolds in 2002.
Harry and Meghan kiss after the prince won a charity match in 2018
He served as president of the Ranelagh Club in south-west London, a Daily Mail report from 1930 shows.
The young prince played many matches and was photographed after a match at Maldon in 1932.
In 1937, he took part in a Lords versus Commons match and was photographed on horseback, holding a gavel.
Prince Philip, like his father-in-law, was also a passionate polo player.
He began playing as a young man encouraged by his uncle Lord Mountbatten.
The Duke of Edinburgh formed his own polo club in 1955, called the Household Brigade Club, which was based in Windsor Great Park.
In 1969, it became Guards and Philip served as club president until his death in 2021.
His enthusiasm for the sport was demonstrated in 1967 when he took part in an impromptu bicycle polo match at Windsor Castle.
Philip had to carefully balance the steering of the bike with one hand and hold the mallet with the other.
Queen Mary presents the Duke of York’s polo cup to Louis Mountbatten at Ranelagh as the future George VI looks on in 1931.
George VI photographed at a Lords versus the Commons polo match in 1937
George VI, holding his polo team, after playing a match at Maldon in 1932
He fell off his bike three times and “his antics had the Queen, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Kent laughing out loud,” the Daily Mail reported at the time.
During his polo career, the Duke became one of the best players in the country and even represented England.
The Duke of Edinburgh finally “hung up his polo sticks” at the age of 50 in 1971, after 22 years of playing the sport.
His decision came after he continued to suffer from ‘synovitis-inflammation’ in his wrist.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at the time: “Prince Charles has shown an increasing interest in polo and there is no doubt that some of his father’s ponies will be passed on to him.”
The official added: “There is a strong possibility that he (Prince Philip) could become a polo referee.”
Prince Philip laughs after falling off his bicycle during a polo match in 1967
The Duke of Edinburgh with his uncle, Louis Mountbatten, after a polo match in Malta in 1952
Prince Charles with his father Philip and Queen Elizabeth after a polo match in Windsor in 1967.
Charles played his first competitive polo match in August 1965.
He scored two goals while the Queen and Prince Philip watched and his team, Rangers, won.
A palace official said at the time: “Prince Charles gave an excellent performance against experienced players.”
Charles went on to become one of the country’s top ten players during his career and helped raise approximately £12 million through charity matches, according to the Mail.
The Duchess of York’s father, Ronald Ferguson, trained both Charles and Philip. Sarah reportedly met Prince Andrew as a child at a polo match.
Charles reportedly met his second wife, Camilla, at a polo game in 1970.
He retired from the sport in 2005 at age 57 after playing for more than 40 years.
Prince Charles with his son Harry at a polo match in Cirencester Park, Gloucestershire, in 1999
The Queen with her grandsons Harry and William watching a polo match in 1987.
Charles at a polo match in Tisbury, Wiltshire, in 1994
Charles has passed on his passion for polo to his sons William and Harry, who have been playing since they were teenagers.
Following in their late mother-in-law Diana’s footsteps, Kate and Meghan have also been spotted on the sidelines watching their husbands play.
“It’s a kind of royal rite of passage,” Andrew Morton wrote in Meghan: A Hollywood Princess.
“Some of the best (and most affectionate) photographs ever taken of Princess Diana were when she attended polo matches involving Prince Charles,” he writes.
Meghan watched Harry play polo in May 2017 at Coworth Park in Berkshire in what was to be their first public event together.
He applauded and encouraged the prince from the royal box at the charity match.
Meghan watches Harry take part in a game of polo at Coworth Park in Berkshire in 2017
William and Kate joined in the fun at the Royal Charity Polo Cup in Windsor last year.
Chelsy Davy, Harry’s ex-girlfriend, Zara, Princess Anne’s daughter, and Kate, now Princess of Wales, watch a match at Tedworth Park Polo Club, Wiltshire, in 2006.
Harry and William take part in a game at Tedworth Polo Club in Wiltshire to raise money for charity in 2002.
Harry “is a very optimistic person by nature and he always pushes the limits, he always challenges people, and that’s how he plays polo,” said professional player Malcolm Borwick. he told the Express.
Although he now lives in California, the Duke of Sussex still plays polo and, in April this year, his team won a match in Miami to help raise funds for Sentebale, the charity Harry founded in 2006.
William “is a talent because he has had to overcome the fact that he is left-handed and has to play polo with his right hand,” one commentator told the Express.
Kate often watches her husband play in charity matches and the couple have been photographed kissing after a match.
