TRIBUTE
P
olo was first played at Guards Polo Club in 1955. Some Army officers were playing at Major Archie David’s home near Henley. One of those officers, Col David Smiley, asked HM The Queen whether she would consider
allocating any space for polo in Windsor Great Park for these Household Cavalry players. HRH Prince Philip had also wanted to play closer to home – Windsor Castle – and so gave this idea his full support. It was HM The Queen who first suggested Smith’s Lawn, a flat area of land in the Park that had been used as a runway during the Second World War and from where His Royal Highness had completed part of his flying training. At the time of asking it was also the location for the 1954 European Three-Day Event Championships. With permissions duly given, these polo-playing officers
soon got to work and polo began at the newly-named Household Brigade Club in June 1955. It was renamed the Guards Polo Club in 1969. That first tournament was The Royal Windsor Cup, recognised today as the UK’s leading 15-goal tournament. Ironically, the Club’s Founder and President did not play
In 1956, Prince Philip formed his own Windsor Park team, whose colours – dark green with red piping – were similar to the cassocks worn by the choristers of the Royal Chapel
very much at the Club in that inaugural year. The late Lord Patrick Beresford revealed why in his Yearbook article of 2011. “Initially Prince Philip formed the team named The Mariners – so called because it contained two naval colleagues, Robert de Pass and Matt Maunder and the ex- Royal Marine General Robert Neville. In the event Robert Neville had to drop out through injury and was replaced by... Col Alec Harper. “Being committed to this team, Prince Philip did not
play at Windsor in 1955, apart from competing in the first Royal Windsor Cup and captaining the Welsh Guards in a challenge match versus the Royal Horse Guards. The following year, 1956, he formed his own Windsor Park team (based on pre-war international Humphrey Guinness) and whose colours – dark green with red piping – were similar to the cassocks worn by the choristers of the Royal Chapel.” Prince Philip captured that earlier era of polo when
writing about the sport in his own collection of essays and speeches, Men, Machines and Sacred Cows, which was published in 1984: “Hot, tired and frequently hurting, you make your way back to the pony lines, thank the grooms, pat the ponies which did well and make friends with the ponies who did not. Then for a shower, a change and almost the best moment of all, a cooling and refreshing drink with friends and kindred spirits to whom polo is not just a game, but the greatest game of all.” Arthritis in his wrist forced the Prince to retire from
26 GUARDS POLO CLUB OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 2021
Top: HM The Queen presents the Victoria Cup to HRH Prince Philip, captain of the Welsh Guards polo team, after a win over Silver Leys at Guards Polo Club in May 1959
Above: Our President with a Best Playing Pony at Smith's Lawn
Below: HRH Prince Philip and HRH Prince Charles make their way to the pony lines at Guards Polo Club
polo in 1971 but not before he had added his name to a plethora of trophies, including the Gold Cup (British Open Championship) three times at Cowdray Park, the Warwickshire Cup, the Cowdray Park Challenge Cup, the Royal Windsor Cup and the Midhurst Town Plate. He also reached the final of the Queen’s Cup twice, losing by just half a goal on both occasions! Retirement did not diminish Prince Philip’s
enthusiasm for polo. He maintained a keen interest in the game, watching games at Smith’s Lawn when time allowed and always speaking knowledgeably with players at trophy presentations. His Royal Highness continued to take an active interest in the operation and development of Guards Polo Club, most recently offering wise counsel on the redevelopment of the Princes’ Ground. In fact, it was the President himself that suggested re-routing Prince Consort Drive to give the Club more space to expand this playing field. Prince Philip’s loyalty and commitment to
Guards Polo Club was always at the heart of our success and his guidance and invariably practical advice will be missed by us all. We send our deepest condolences to HM The Queen, HRH The Prince of Wales and the wider Royal Family. ◆
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