Followers of the Royal Family will be no stranger to Nacho Figueras, who has been by Prince Harry’s side through thick and thin for nearly two decades.
Most recently, the two besties were spotted shopping for their wives in Japan, where they met to raise money for the Sentebale Polo Cup ahead of a summit on sport, community, and philanthropy.
The duke and Figueras bonded over their love for polo all the way back in 2007 and have been inseparable ever since. And, over the years, as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made the decision to step away from the Royal Family, Figueras has been one of their most vocal supporters and has even appeared in their controversial Netflix documentary.
But who exactly is Nacho Figueras? Let’s get to know the dashing athlete who always has Harry’s back.
Who is Nacho Figueras?
Nacho Figueras, who was born Ignacio Figueras Bermejo, is a famed Argentinian polo player and model. Dubbed the “David Beckham of Polo”, Figueras is considered to be the most famous polo player in the world.
The Buenos Aires native’s polo journey began thanks to his father’s friend Lucas Monteverde, who played polo professionally. At the age of nine, Figueras started to play with Monteverde and, when he was 14, decided to move into Monteverde’s estate so he could focus on polo.
His professional career began when he was 17 years old. Over the years, he has played for the likes of White Birch, but he is currently the captain of Black Watch, a team he is a co-owner of.
Figueras’ modelling career
The polo player’s modelling career began more than a decade ago, when famed photographer Bruce Weber approached him at a dinner party in The Hamptons. Figueras realised that he could use the extra money he would make through modelling on polo and use the opportunity to raise awareness of the sport. In 2000, he modelled for Ralph Lauren and, by 2005, he was the face of Ralph Lauren Black Label. In 2009, he also became the face of the World of Polo fragrances.
The handsome polo athlete is also no stranger to television appearances, having appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen Degeneres Show, and the CW series Gossip Girl.
Figueras’ personal life
The Argentinian sportsman tied the knot with Delfina Blaquier, a former model and photographer who also happens to be the daughter of an Argentinian polo player, back in 2004. The pair first met at a polo match in Buenos Aires in 1997.
The couple have since welcomed four children together: Hilario, Aurora, Artemio, and Alba.
Figueras’ wealth
The 46-year-old is believed to have a net worth of $30 million (£23.5 million). His income is the result of his career as one of the most prominent polo players in the world and the face of Ralph Lauren.
Also, in recent years, the sportsman has released a range of perfumes inspired by his travels across the globe, with a portion of the sale proceeds being donated to Prince Harry’s charity Sentebale.
Figueras’ relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry and Nacho have been close friends since bonding over polo in 2007.
When Harry first started dating Meghan, Nacho was one of the first people that the Prince discussed his relationship with.
In the Harry & Meghan docuseries, the athlete shared that Harry told him and his wife that he had met a girl who might be “the one”. Figueras added: “You could tell right away that those eyes were those of someone who’d fallen in love.”
In 2019, he stood by his friend Harry when the couple were falling out of favour with the Royal Family and the British public. In a post, he shared: “The world thinks they know everything about this man. I have been fortunate enough to spend enough time over the years to learn and understand the man he really is.”
Since Meghan and Harry moved to the US, Nacho has been a prominent figure in their new lives, playing polo with Harry in Santa Barbara and spending time together.
From going on charity trips to African nations together to bonding over their love of fatherhood, Nacho and Harry’s friendship seems like it will go on for many more decades.
