The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s polo documentary has aired on Netflix, with Harry discussing the perils of pitting father against son in the fast-paced sport.
Harry and Meghan are executive producers of the five-episode series which is shot primarily at the US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida.
The Sussexes make an appearance themselves in episode five, filmed at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge staged in aid of Sentebale, in Florida in April, with the pair shown sharing a kiss on the podium.
Harry, who used to play polo both on the same team and against his father the King in Charles’s younger days, is also filmed questioning team-mate and Argentine professional polo player Adolfo Cambiaso about competing against his 18-year-old son and rising star, Poroto.
The duke, who has a strained relationship with the King in the wake of Megxit and the allegations Harry levelled at the royal family in his previous tell-all Netflix documentary, says to Cambiaso of Poroto: “You’ve created something special. He’s doing amazing things.”
Cambiaso replies, in the light-hearted exchange as they sit on chairs on the side of the polo field putting on their boots: “We play together a lot, you know. You can play with your kid, something that you love.”
Harry replies: “Yeah, but what’s it like playing against your kid?”
Cambiaso replies: “It’s difficult. And worse when you lose.”
Harry laughs, adding: “You’re proud, but also angry.”
Footage includes Harry scoring a goal, as the commentator enthusiastically tells the crowd: “Prince Harry on the move, working it.
“Oh, what a run. Ladies and gentleman what a run and what a goal by the prince. Give it up, if you will, for the Duke of Sussex.”
A proud Meghan, wearing sunglasses, round gold earrings, a cream halterneck dress and what appears to be the late Diana, Princess of Wales’ Cartier watch, is seen smiling and clapping, and giving a small whoop as she celebrates Harry’s success, with his team eventually triumphing 3-1.
The duke is described as wanting to “win at all costs” as he competes in the charity match.
Professional polo player Louis Devaleix, who was on the opposite team, says in a sitdown excerpt to camera: “Prince Harry was not relaxing and he wanted to win at all costs, and I was the same way.”
Meghan presents the trophy to Harry on the podium, greeting him with a kiss – a moment that was previously widely reported.
The couple were spotted being filmed by a camera crew for the series at the time.
An overlay on the screen tells viewers that since 2020, Sentebale, the charity Harry founded in 2006 to help Aids orphans in Lesotho, has received over 15 million dollars (£11.75 million) from charity polo matches.
The series by Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions is their fourth output with Netflix, as part of their multi-million pound deal with the streaming giant.
POLO is a new documentary series that follows elite global players and offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of the sport. From Archewell Productions and Boardwalk Pictures. Premiering this December. pic.twitter.com/92vu4xYW8u
— Netflix (@netflix) September 9, 2024
It follows elite global players on and off the field, with the “sexy” sport billed in the trailer as showcasing “dirty, sweaty boys…riding”.
The documentary is the Sussexes’ first since Heart Of Invictus, which aired some 16 months ago and followed a group of service members on their road to the Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style sporting competition set up by Harry in 2014 for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
It followed Live To Lead, about leaders who have dedicated themselves to social justice, in 2022, and before that, the couple’s controversial six-part Harry & Meghan documentary.
In Harry & Meghan, the duke and duchess shed light on their troubled life within the royal family, accusing Kensington Palace of lying to protect William, and Charles, now King, of lying at the Megxit summit.
Another non-fiction series for Netflix, produced by Meghan, on “the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining and friendship” is in production.
Harry and Meghan’s tennis star friend Serena Williams makes a fleeting appearance in Polo, being greeted by Harry and standing next to Meghan.
The duke also introduces his wife to Cambiaso Sr, with Harry proudly saying: “She’s fluent in Spanish.”
Meghan replies in Spanish and talks about her time living in Argentina and its May 25 Revolution Day national holiday.
“Yes, I lived there about 20 years ago. In Palermo Viejo. Las Canitas too…I love the 25th of May,” the duchess says.
Cambiaso asks whether Harry speaks Spanish, with Meghan replying “Yes” and “Si” and Harry laughing and saying: “He knows I don’t.”
Meghan is also shown perched, sitting on the edge of the boot of a car, concentrating as she watches her husband in the match, with Williams stood next to her.
Polo received two-star ratings in its first reviews from The Telegraph and The Guardian.
The Guardian calls it “Prince Harry’s unintentionally hilarious profile of the world’s stupidest sport”, adding it “feels like a spoof documentary designed to play on screens in the background of episodes of Succession”.
According to The Telegraph: “There’s lots of blood, sweat, and tears in the series – but not enough of the Sussexes to make this anything other than a dull indulgence about a rich person’s pursuit.”
Milos Balac, the series’ showrunner and executive producer, was asked by Variety about whether there would be a second season.
Mr Balac said: “In a potential season two, I do think we could interrogate more what the patron figure is as a whole. But here our whole goal was to just introduce it as a concept.”
In polo, the patron is the financial supporter of a team and also one of its four players.
Harry also makes a brief appearance in episode four, as he asks for an update on Bob Jornayvaz, the Valiente team patron and owner, who was seriously injured and left in a coma after a fall during a US Open heat.
The duke is also seen watching a match alongside friend and professional polo player Nacho Figueras.
