As Harry’s new documentary turns the spotlight on polo, photos from the Mail’s archive reveals how the Sport of Kings has captivated Britain’s Royal Family for decades

With its heady mix of horses, competition and tradition, polo, also known as the Sport of Kings, has fascinated Britain’s male royal family for decades.

Their wives and girlfriends often get involved too, with biographer Andrew Morton describing it in his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess as ‘a royal rite of passage’ for the female members of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth II often cheered on Prince Philip, as did Princess Diana as Prince Charles.

The Duchess of Sussex’s first public appearance with Prince Harry was at a polo match, while Kate greeted Prince William with a kiss after a match.

Harry’s new five-part Netflix documentary titled Polo will be released soon and will shine the spotlight on the sport’s elite global players.

King George VI introduced the Royal Family to polo and enjoyed both watching and playing the game.

He was president of the Ranelagh Club in south-west London, according to a 1930 report in the Daily Mail.

The young prince played in many matches and was photographed after a match at Maldon in 1932.

In 1937 he took part in a Lords versus the Commons match and was photographed riding a horse, holding a hammer.

Prince Philip, like his father-in-law, was also an avid polo player.

He started playing when he was young, encouraged by his uncle Lord Mountbatten.

The Duke of Edinburgh founded 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 was chairman of the club until his death in 2021.

His enthusiasm for the sport was reflected in 1967 when he took part in an impromptu cycle polo match at Windsor Castle.

Philip had to carefully balance between steering the bike with one hand and holding the hammer with the other.

He fell off his bike three times and “his antics made the Queen, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Kent roar with laughter,” the Daily Mail reported at the time.

During his polo career, the Duke became one of the country’s top players 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 spokesperson said at the time: ‘Prince Charles is showing an increasing interest in polo and there can be no doubt that a number of his father’s ponies will be passed on to him.’

The official added: “There is a good chance that he [Prince Philip] can become a polo referee.’

Charles played in his first competitive polo match in August 1965.

He scored two goals as the Queen and Prince Philip watched and his team, Rangers, won.

A palace official said at the time: “Prince Charles put in a fine performance against seasoned players.”

Charles became one of the country’s top ten players during his career and helped raise an estimated £12 million through charity matches, according to the Mail.

The Duchess of York’s father, Ronald Ferguson, coached both Charles and Philip. Sarah is said to have met Prince Andrew as a child at a polo match.

Charles reportedly met his second wife, Camilla, at a polo match in 1970.

He retired from the sport in 2005 at the age of 57, after playing for more than 40 years.

Charles has passed on his passion for polo to his sons William and Harry, who have been playing since their teenage years.

Following in the footsteps of their late mother-in-law Diana, 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 – photos ever taken of Princess Diana were taken when she attended polo matches involving Prince Charles,” he wrote.

Meghan saw Harry play polo at Coworth Park in Berkshire in May 2017 in what would be their first public event together.

She clapped and cheered the prince on from the royal box during the charity match.

Harry “is naturally very optimistic as a person and always pushes boundaries, always challenges people, and that’s how he plays polo,” professional player Malcolm Borwick has said 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 raise money for Sentebale, the charity Harry founded in 2006.

William “is gifted because he has had to overcome the fact that he is left-handed and has to play polo with his right hand,” a commentator told the Express.

Kate often watches her husband play in charity matches and the couple have been photographed sharing a kiss after a match.