Michael Nkalane
BRITISH Prince Harry spent the weekend in the Cape to play polo for charity.
Prince Harry took part in the sixth Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup, held for the first time in South Africa.
He arrived in the country on Thursday and played at the Val de Vie Estate in Paarl on Saturday.
Estate marketing director Ryk Neethling said polo enthusiasts were eager to see him in action. “People flocked to the area as they wanted to see him. That is how so much money was raised.”
He said the prince had always loved the Cape.
The Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup is the largest one-day charity polo event in the world and is specifically held to raise money for Sentebale – a charity founded by Prince Harry and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso to assist Lesotho’s vulnerable children.
Since its inception the event has raised more than R60 million (£3 million) for Sentebale.
Harry teamed up with Sentebale ambassador Nacho Figueras for the ISPS Handa team and played against Royal Salute ambassador Malcolm Borwick’s team.
When the Val de Vie Polo Club members took to the field for this momentous match,
Neethling said: “It is a privilege to welcome the founders of Sentebale – Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso – to our estate. Like Sentebale, we are passionate about helping those in need and are pleased to be able to play a supporting role in the excellent work that this charity is doing.”