itself provided an ambience that was reminiscent of venues with which many of us from the American South are familiar – further reinforcing this writer’s belief that England and the southern states share cultural ties that make us seem oddly familiar to one another, even though we speak with different accents – the way city cousins and country cousins recognize family traits in one another, even if their verbal intonations don’t match up exactly.

After cocktails, the assembled group sat down to a delightful luncheon under a festively tented front lawn of the club. As the guests were making their fi nal efforts on the sumptuous repast, HAM President Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers rose to welcome everyone and say a few words about the day’s events. Commenting on the fact that the day’s activities were taking place on the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, Nicholas remarked that Alan Meeker reminded him that the UK and the USA were once again teaming up for great causes. And what a teaming up it was. Among the Crestview team members, Nicholas recognized “the legendary Owen Rinehart, who I remember at ten goals.” And on the English side, well, half of team Umbogo was comprised of none other than HRH Prince William of Wales and HRH Prince Harry of Wales. It is rare that the two princes play polo together on the same team, so this was a treat, indeed. The game benefi tted six of the princes’ favourite charities: HMS Alliance, Sentebale, the English Schools Swimming Association, Mapaction, Dolen Cymru-Wales and Lesotho Link.

The camaraderie at the luncheon was mirrored on the fi eld of play, with the vigorous four-chukker match-up ending in a 6-6 tie. When Prince Harry hit a shot on goal just a bit wide, the announcer graciously commented, “Must have been the wind, sir!” I later assured my American friends that the last two words were not intended in any way to be a pun (Windsor), and that the aural similarity was a case of mere coincidence. The assembled crowd also got to see a signature play by Crestview Farm’s Alan Martinez, who bounced the polo ball on his mallet a few times in the air at a gallop before hitting it through the goal in a tennis-style overhead shot. And, most compellingly, the crowd had the privilege to witness the princes playing together with a coordinated fl uidity and ease of on-fi eld communication that can transpire only between brothers.

Following the post-game ceremonies, Prince William and Prince Harry lingered a while to meet some of the spectators attending the game, to the obvious delight of many of the ladies in attendance that afternoon. The post-game mingling also gave many of us the opportunity to meet representatives from the very worthy charities that were benefi tting from this very successful event.

At the end of the day, England and America had once again teamed for the benefi t of the greater good – this time in the service of causes that were as diverse as they were deserving of largesse. I heard through the grapevine that HRH Prince William actually said that the match provided the most enjoyable play he had ever experienced during a charity polo event, and despite the ever-persistent paparazzi emerging from the woods on the far side of the fi eld, it was clearly evident to me that the event exuded an ambience of warmth and conviviality that created an ideal environment for the forging of the bonds of new and genuine friendships.

Charity Day by Dara WIlliams continued overleaf...

Photography: Rory Merry

Photography: Tony Ramirez

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