Prince Harry attends the Sentebale Polo Cup as Meghan Markle stays home

12 August 2023 , 08:09

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Prince Harry in action at the Polo Cup (Image: HOW HWEE YOUNG/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Prince Harry is today attending an annual polo cup to raise money for charity, supporting children and young people affected by poverty, inequality and HIV or AIDS in southern Africa.

The Duke of Sussex is taking part in the Sentebale Polo Cup in Singapore in aid of his charity Sentebale, which he founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006. Since 2010, the annual polo cup has raised more than £11 million to support Sentebale's work.

Harry is playing on the Royal Salute Sentebale Team, against the Singapore Polo Club Team captained by the charity's ambassador and long-time friend, Nacho Figueras. The polo cup comes after the two friends travelled to Tokyo, Japan, where they took part in a summit on the power of sport, community and philanthropy at the ISPS Sports Values Summit-Special Edition. Meghan Markle did not travel with her husband and stayed home with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

Harry on his horse during the event (AFP via Getty Images)

Prince Harry with Argentinian polo player Nacho Figueras and Chair of Sentebale Sophie Chandauka (HOW HWEE YOUNG/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Ahead of today's event in Singapore, Harry said: "The annual Polo Cup is essential to Sentebale’s vital work ensuring children and young people are healthy, resilient, and able to thrive. The funds raised this year will support our Clubs and Camps programme, which provides intensive psychosocial support to young people living with HIV.

"In a time where being HIV positive is no longer a death sentence, we are empowering young people to know their status, stay healthy, and eliminate the stigma so that they can break the cycle. We are delighted to return to the renowned Singapore Polo Club in August, and are once again enormously grateful for the polo community and our sponsors, in particular ISPS Handa, for their ongoing commitment to Lesotho and Botswana's youth."

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Earlier this year, Harry personally donated $1.5million (£1.2million) to help grow his own global development charity. Sentebale grew by more than 50 percent last year after raising $5.5million (£4.5million).

Prince Harry smiles as he attends the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup in Singapore (AFP via Getty Images)

Harry' s financial documents show he made the huge donation which the charity says will be used to "rebuild our programmes following Covid-19 and improve the quality and reach of our work". Other fundraising efforts organised by the charity included an auction attended by singer James Blunt.

Sentebale supports children in Lesotho and Botswana living with the impact of HIV and was founded in memory of Harry's late mother Princess Diana. Harry recently narrated a short promotional clip for the charity in which he opened up about his reasons for founding the charity.

"The charity was founded in honour of our members and symbolises our pledge to always remember and advocate for the most vulnerable among us," he said. "Many young lives across southern Africa have been impacted by poverty, inequality, HIV/Aids and lately Covid-19, leaving many children and young people caring for siblings, out of school and with disrupted adherence to HIV treatment to name but a few."

Chiara Fiorillo