On Monday, Sentebale, the organization co-founded by Harry in 2006 alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, made an announcement regarding the 2023 Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup. The event, which aims to aid children in Africa affected by poverty, inequality, HIV/AIDS, and more recently, COVID-19, will be hosted at the Singapore Polo Club on August 12.
The annual Polo Cup has been a tremendous success throughout the years. It has raised over $14 million to support Sentebale’s initiatives for the welfare of children and young people since its inception in 2010.
In a statement, Prince Harry, 38, expressed the significance of the annual Polo Cup for Sentebale’s crucial mission in ensuring the well-being and thriving of children and young individuals.
“The annual Polo Cup is essential to Sentebale’s vital work ensuring children and young people are healthy, resilient, and able to thrive. The funds raised this year will support our Clubs and Camps programme, which provides intensive psychosocial support to young people living with HIV,” said the Duke of Sussex. “In a time where being HIV positive is no longer a death sentence, we are empowering young people to know their status, stay healthy, and eliminate the stigma so that they can break the cycle.”
He added, “We are delighted to return to the renowned Singapore Polo Club in August, and are once again enormously grateful for the polo community and our sponsors, in particular ISPS Handa, for their ongoing commitment to Lesotho and Botswana’s youth.”
Prince Harry is all set to join the Royal Salute Sentebale Team, going up against the Singapore Polo Club Team, which will be led by the charity’s ambassador and longtime friend, Nacho Figueras.
Prince Harry will also take part in philanthropy summit in Tokyo
The Duke of Sussex’s trip to Asia will also include a visit to Tokyo, Japan! There, both Prince Harry and Figueras will actively participate in the ISPS Sports Values Summit-Special Edition on August 9. This summit will focus on the immense power of sport, community, and philanthropy. They will be joined by distinguished individuals such as ISPS Handa Founder, Dr. Handa, former New Zealand All Blacks and ISPS Handa Ambassador, Dan Carter, Sentebale Chair Sophie Chandauka MBE, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of South Africa’s Stellenbosch University, Professor Wim de Villiers, and Royal Australian Navy Veteran and Invictus Games Gold Medallist, Steve James.
Over the last two years, Prince Harry has opted for proximity by hosting the Sentebale Polo Cup in Aspen, Colorado, a conveniently short flight away from his residence in California, where he lives with Meghan Markle and their two children.
Nonetheless, the charity match has toured various locations worldwide since its inception in 2010, starting with its debut event in Barbados. Other countries that have hosted the Polo Cup include the U.K., Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Italy.
The upcoming trip to Singapore marks a return to the city for the polo cup since it was previously held there in 2017.