Prince Harryis galloping for a good cause in Singapore.
The first Sentebale Polo Cup was held in Barbados in 2010, and the equestrian event has raised over $14 million for the organization to date.
Prince Harry takes part in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup in Singapore.ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty
Figueras met Harry at a charity match benefiting Sentebale in 2007 andpreviously told PEOPLEthe prince’s passion instantly made an impact.
“From day one, I saw how committed he was to his charity,” the pro rider told PEOPLE last summer.
“Fast forward 15 years, I’ve been to Lesotho with him a few times, and I’ve seen what great work the charity does and how important it is for a lot of kids, how committed he is, how much he really cares about it,” he added.
Although Figueras, 46, and Prince Harry competed against each other for Saturday’s charity match, they rode on the same team for a season at the Santa Barbara Polo Club last summer. According to Figueras, hitting the pitch for the Los Padres team — which means “the fathers” or “parents” in Spanish — brought them even closer.
“Being able to play with him for two months in a real competition with the Los Padres team was a dream come true for me, and maybe for him too — we should ask him,” he told PEOPLE in July 2022. “We got to spend a lot of time together on the field, off the field with our families. We really bonded more than we’ve ever bonded before, being able to be with him so much.”
Nacho Figueras, Sentebale Ambassador and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Co-Founding Patron of Sentebale, pose for a photo during the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on August 12, 2023 in Singapore.Matt Jelonek/Getty
Matt Jelonek/Getty
It doesn’t hurt that Harry is a talented polo player, either!
“He’s very competitive,” Figueras said. “He plays very well, he rides very well — it’s an honor to be his teammate.”
The pro athlete has accompanied the Duke of Sussexthroughout his trip to Asia, which kicked off with a sports summit in Tokyo.
HOW HWEE YOUNG/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Britain’s Prince Harry (L) with a teammate takes part in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup in Singapore.ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty
In a statement shared through Sentebale, the Duke of Sussex broke down the importance of teamwork both on and off the field as well as defining what the power of sport meant to him.
“The lessons we learn on the field are the same principles of philanthropy: that a mission, hard work, dedication, and partnership can make even the impossible, possible,” he said. “Whether banded together in victory or showing up with respect in loss, no one ever crosses a finish line or scores a goal without the help and belief of others. That, to me, is the power of sport.”
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
In a family tie, Prince Harry’s first cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips are alsoISPS Handa ambassadors. Zara, 42, is a professional equestrian, while Peter, 45, is a sports management executive whorecently organizedthe Festival of British Eventing at Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park home.
Sentebale Ambassador Nacho Figueras and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex during the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup 2022.Chris Jackson/Getty
“Shopping for our wives,” Figueras captioned the snap.
The Duchess of Sussex, who celebrated her 42nd birthday last week, stayed at home in California with their two children —Prince Archie, 4, andPrincess Lilibet, 2 — and also enjoyed a night out atTaylor Swift’sconcertat Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium on Tuesday.
source: people.com
